Chapelle de la Mission (2nd wine of Mission Haut Brion) 2016

The 2016 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion has a tight, reticent nose at the moment, perhaps just a little closed down in winter. The harmonious palate is more open, offering fine-grained tannin, black cherry and bilberry fruit laced with white pepper, and a touch of tobacco on the finish, which shows fine persistence. This La Chapelle will benefit from a couple of years in bottle.

Score: 90

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2034 01 January 2019

The 2016 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion is just as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Fresh, silky and inviting, the Chapelle is all class. Floral notes lead into a core of expressive red cherry and plum fruit. Medium in body, silky and exquisite in its balance, the 2016 has so much to recommend it. I would prefer to give the wine a few years in bottle to allow a broader range of aromas and flavors to develop, but even today, the Chapelle is gorgeous. The 21% Cabernet Franc in the blend adds striking brightness and perfume throughout.

Score: 92

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2021-2036 01 January 2019

The success of La Mission is even more impressive as this was not an easy vintage for the Haut-Brion stable. They are close to the city here, and things got hot on their gravel soils. It is one of the main reasons that alcohols are lower than in recent years, because various plots shut down and stopped accumulating sugar. Although yields were high at 52hl/ha, the extra volume was mostly put towards the third wine. They have performed an amazing sleight of hand here, as La Chapelle has plenty of the signature of its brilliant big brother. There is less persistency but still plenty of juicy, ripe fruits and a toasty edge to the aromatics that is a classic signature of the house. There is a gap between the two wines, perhaps more than in some other years, but it's a space where you would be very happy to sit and enjoy the view. From a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot and 21.5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 25% new oak. 3.6pH.

Score: 93

Decanter, - Maturity: 2023-2040 25 April 2017

36.5% Merlot, 21.5% Cabernet Franc, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby purple. Rich, soft stone fruit nose with smoky hints. Intense and fleshy with soft-skinned plum fruits, hints of raisin and Victoria plum jam. Some tighter fruit in the middle. Mild slightly grainy tannins.

Score: 91 - 93

Albany Vintners, - 19 April 2017