Wednesday 5th June 2019

Mission Haut Brion Chateau.jpg
We are delighted to offer the first of the much anticipated wines from Domaine Clarence Dillon.
 
"Domaine Clarence Dillon pretty much nailed it across the board in 2018... All the wines are ripe and seductive, true to what 2018 wanted to give as a vintage, and yet they possess bags of bright fruit, energy and freshness."
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

2018 is another classic vintage of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion that commands a potentially perfect 98-100 score from the Wine Advocate.  The release price of £1500 per 6 makes it cheaper than any vintage with a comparable score and quantities released onto the market are 25% reduced on last year - this will sell out fast.  We have confirmed to last year’s buyers already but have a limited number of cases available for new allocations.  Priority will be given to buyers of the other wines on this offer from the Clarence Dillon stable (Chappelle de la Mission, Clarte de Haut Brion, Mission Haut Brion Blanc).
 
  WA Score Price / 6 IB
2018 98-100 1500
2016 98+ 1825
2015 98 1675
2010 98+ 2300
2009 100 2350
2005 100 2200
2000 100 2700

In top vintages, like 2018, the second wines can offer especially good value and at £715 per 12 Chapelle de la Mission (93-94 JS) will be the cheapest released by any of the top estates.  The full bodied 2018 Chapelle gives a glimpse of what this incredible terroir is capable of in top vintages.  91-93 WA "wonderful freshness lifting the black and red fruit preserves, framed by beautifully rounded tannins"
 
We can also offer a few cases of the estate’s beautiful dry white La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, made in tiny quantities and available at £2875 per 6.  Clarté de Haut Brion, the very good (dry white) second wine made here in conjunction with Chateau Haut Brion, is also available at £715 per 12 and shows "terrific purity".
 
Ambitious Second Growth Chateau Montrose has become one of the most recognisable Bordeaux brands, transformed under the Bouygues ownership and now managed by the former director of Mouton Rothschild.  The 2018 is a "stellar wine in the making" that will rival the estate's finest vintages with great scores across the board including 97-100 from Jeff Leve in the Wine Cellar Insider. Released at £1565 per 12 which places it significantly below the price of the 2009 (£2200) and 2010 (£1900) and at the level of the 2016.  The estate moved to be fully organic this year, sadly this means quantities released onto the market are 40% less so please do not hesitate if you would like some.

97-100 JL "When you taste a barrel sample and the first thought that comes to mind is 'I want this in my cellar' you know you're tasting a rock star!"

The sumptuous second wine, Dame de Montrose (£372 per 12) has a new label and is likened by James Suckling to the 1989 Grand Vin!  95-96 JS - purity of fruit and round, velvety tannins. Juicy, too. Sexy. Reminds me of the 1989 Montrose!

 

Prices

CHAPELLE DE LA MISSION |   £715 per 12x75  |  £358 per 6x75
93-94 JS - A solid second wine from La Mission with currants, blackberries and hints of fresh tobacco. Oyster shell as well. Full-bodied with firm and chewy yet fine-grained tannins. Driven and long.

CLARTE DE HAUT BRION |   £715 per 12x75  |  £358 per 6x75
94-95 JS - A lovely, dense white with pretty phenolic tension and dried-apple and peach character. Medium to full body. Phenolics give this tension.

DAME DE MONTROSE |   £372 per 12x75
95-96 JS - Very dense center palate to the La Dame this year with purity of fruit and round, velvety tannins. Juicy, too. Sexy. Reminds me of the 1989 Montrose!

MISSION HAUT BRION |   £3000 per 12x75  |  £1500 per 6x75
98-100 WA - Deep purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal a beguiling nose of earth and soft-spoken fruit, opening with wild blueberries, wet slate, pencil lead and fresh black cherries giving way to a serious core of blackcurrant cordial, baked plums and wild sage, and then exposing delicate wafts of rose hip tea and candied violets. Full-bodied, the palate is very tightly wound and super intense with amazing restraint and energy focused around very firm, exquisitely fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing incredibly long and fantastically multilayered. Extraordinary wine.

MISSION HAUT BRION BLANC |   £2875 per 6x75
97-98 JS - This is a dense and lively La Mission white with lemon, lime and cream character and a light mineral and salty undertone. White pepper and salt at the finish.

MONTROSE |   £1565 per 12x75  |  £783 per 6x75
95-98 AG - The 2018 Montrose balances finesse and power to a degree I don't think I have seen in a recent young Montrose. The 2018 has plenty of depth, intensity and thrust - all signatures of Montrose - but it also has a striking sense of elegance... a stellar wine in the making.




En Primeur
Wines available In Bond UK Summer 2021. 
Wines may be ordered in special sizes for a small supplement (6x150cl Magnums, 1x300cl double magnum, 3x300cl double magnums, 1x600cl imperial) .
Sweet wines may be ordered in half-bottles (case of 12x37.5 or case of 24x37.5) at no extra cost.

For more information or to place an order, please call on 01223 849040 or email us  (finewine@albanyvintners.com)