| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2015 La Chapelle de la Mission has a high-toned bouquet with iodine and light cassis scents that gradually opens with time. The palate is sweet and chewy on the entry, clean and pure with a fine line of acidity and a slightly gravelly finish that lingers in the mouth. Quality winemaking here is no surprise coming from the hands of Jean-Philippe Delmas. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
Lots of currants, spices and fresh herbs follow through to a full body that's tight and silky. Hints of cream and vanilla. Savory and salty. Shows structure and intensity as the second wine of La Mission. Try in 2021.
Composed of 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium garnet-purple colored 2015 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion opens with an earthy nose of mossy bark, fragrant soil and fallen leaves over a core of red and black currants, bay leaves and menthol plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, it has compelling restraint and elegance with soft tannins and great freshness, finishing on a mineral note. Possessing the spirit and many of the signature hallmarks of its big brother, this second wine of La Mission Haut-Brion is certainly nothing to sneeze at! 2020 - 2035
Tasted blind. Mid crimson. Heady and savoury on the nose. Sweet start. Chewy end. A bit angular.
Drink 2023-2032
The second wine of La Mission Haut Brion. Some of the fruit from the now defunct La Tour Haut Brion vineyard is included in this wine as well as the younger vines of La Mission. In 2015 it is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby colour. Cedar, black cherry and incense on the nose. The palate is robust with chewy tannins to frame the cherry and plum fruit. Smoky cedar builds on the finish to add complexity. Very well balanced and ripe, needing a few years in bottle to fully integrate its firm structure.
As to the reds, the 2015 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion is a terrific second wine well worth seeking out. Tobacco leaf, asphalt, earth and loads of ripe black fruits all emerge from this sexy, opulent, medium to full-bodied, beauty that shares plenty of similarities to its bigger brother. With ripe tannin and a great finish, drink it anytime over the coming two decades. 2018 - 2038
Depth on the nose the start of the palate is fleshy rich with ripe black fruits. There is mid suppleness depth of fruit balance between the sweetness and freshness brighter at the back some underlying bilberry the fruit lingering on the long finish.
This is certainly a ripe second wine - the Merlot proportion was harvested at over 15% - but
the quality of the terroir shines through, giving the blend balance, freshness and harmony.
Sweet, plush and textured, but with tangy underlying acidity. Drink: 2022-30
This is a very high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon for this wine and there is a lot more structure than in years gone by. This is the rich, heady, long-lived side of La Chapelle and it is wonderful to see. The genial, suave version can take a year off. The reason for the power is the fact that the Cabernet ripened fully, up around the 14% mark, which is much higher than found in the Médoc, and this has led to a rather unique wine. Long-lived, graphite and cassis-soaked and very serious, this is a wine to hunt down.
The 2015 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sasuvignon, 30% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. The palate is a little tight, just as I found it out of barrel, although it opens with aromas of blackberry, raspberry, desiccated orange peel and hints of dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a little more structured compared to previous vintages but very fresh with subtle marine notes, seaweed and a little iodine furnishing the appealing finish. This is a great La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion and it will age longer than I suspect many will allow it. Anticipated maturity: 2020 - 2035.
The 2015 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 9 September until 1 October, harvested early to preserve the freshness of the Merlot and taking time to pick the Cabernet at optimal ripeness. The bouquet is tightly wound at the moment, but precise, revealing blackcurrant, cranberry and hints of marmalade scents with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite sturdy tannin on the entry that exert a firm grip, but there is more than enough fruit to back that all up. Touches of cedar and tobacco surface towards the second half and there is a sustained, chalky note on the finish that ensures that this a great deuxième vin.
Very powerful and tannic yet salty and savory. Full body, dense and chewy yet polished and bright. Great second wine from La Mission. Only 30% merlot.
Very rich, almost raisiny nose. Lots of (dried) fruity appeal. Pretty tough dried-grape impression on the finish. Not one of the most fluid wines from this stable! A bit of heat on the end. This wine may always be a bit of an anomaly.
Drink 2025-2033
