LeDomduVin: La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 2009

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 

Pessac-Léognan 2009

Château La Mission Haut-Brion is one of Bordeaux's most prestigious wine estates in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. It is one of my favorite Bordeaux wines, along with Château Haut-Brion.

Founded in the sixteenth century, the estate has a long wine-growing history. It was named after the Lazarist missionaries who lived there in the seventeenth century.

Since 1983, the estate has belonged to the Dillon family, which also owns the neighboring Château Haut-Brion.

While both properties share similarities in terroir and wine style, Haut-Brion is often described as masculine (rich, powerful, layered, and structured), while La Mission is regarded as feminine (elegant, refined, complex, and textured).

The vineyard covers about 29.2 hectares and is located on the road to Pessac in the southwestern suburb of Bordeaux.

Although surrounded by busy roads and residential areas, it still benefits from an exceptional terroir marked by gravelly soils and a favorable microclimate that enhances the unique quality of its wines.

La Mission Haut-Brion produces both red and white wines. The vineyard spans 25.44 hectares planted with red grapes (48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot Noir, 11% Cabernet Franc) and 3.74 hectares of white grapes (63% Sémillon, 37% Sauvignon).

While its whites have gained some notoriety, Château La Mission Haut-Brion is celebrated for its exceptional red wine, often compared to the Premiers Grands Crus Classés of the Médoc. The estate also produces a second wine, La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion.

The wines of La Mission Haut-Brion delight wine lovers and collectors. They are renowned for their elegance, complexity, and ageing potential.

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan 2009

In my 33 years as a Sommelier and Wine Buyer, I have been lucky enough to open countless bottles of La Mission Haut-Brion (and probably even more Haut-Brion) and have rarely been disappointed. In fact, this vintage, 2009, once again, exceeded my expectations.

Beyond its dark color, right at opening, it offers attractive aromas of ripe dark berries and fruits mingling earthy, smoky, and floral notes. The palate is ripe, dense, ample, rich, complex, layered, yet suave, refined, and elegant. It is finely textured and structured, generously expanding from the attack and coating through the mid-palate to the seamless finish. It is a magnificent wine!

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Nice line-up again - Clinet 2010, Margaux 1982 and La Mission Haut-Brion 2016

Nice line-up again - Clinet 2010, Margaux 1982 and La Mission Haut-Brion 2016

The other day, I opened, prepared, and served these 3 great wines:

Chateau Clinet Pomerol 2010

It has a deep, dark, ruby color. The nose is packed with ripe black and red fruit aromas mingling with earthy, spicy notes. The palate is generous, rich, and ample, with blackberry, redcurrant, and coffee flavors with earthy and oaky nuances. Despite its low acidity, slight roughness, present yet integrated tannins, and medium-long finish, it is an enjoyable example of this solar vintage. Although approachable now, it might benefit from a few more years in the cellar. Overall, it is a very nice wine.

Chateau Margaux Margaux 1982

One of the guests brought this bottle. And I was really pleased as 82 Bordeaux are rare nowadays. Surprisingly, it had another two capsules. At first, I feared I was a fake, so I inspected the label. Then, I removed the second capsule and processed to remove the cork, which was as soft as butter and broke despite being extremely cautious and using a double blade (shame I did not have my Durand). The bottom part fell into the bottle. It also had many sediments, so I had to decant it. Per my experience and knowledge, the capsule, cork, and label were all real. It was not a counterfeit. This bottle must have been capsuled with two capsules at the Chateau, as it occurred occasionally in the 80s (I have seen it on other Bordeaux wines).

This Margaux 82 displayed an advanced, bright, light brownish color. The beautiful, delicate, fresh, youthful nose filled the air with secondary and tertiary aromas of red cherry, leather, tobacco, licorice, and underbrush mingling with floral and oaky scents. The palate was delicate, finely chiseled, refined, elegant, and beautifully balanced, with a long finish. Magnificent wine!

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2016

Too young, but what an incredible wine. Fresh, rich, concentrated, focused, racy & complex. Gorgeous! 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: 3 to Tango!

3 to Tango!

Another night with some excellent wines.

Juyondai Harima Yamada Nishiki Junmai Daiginjo (Nakadori)

Made from Harima Yamada Nishiki rice, Nakadori sake is considered the finest of the batch for its clarity, expressive aromas, well-balanced structure, purity of flavor, smooth texture, and versatility. One of Juyondai’s premium, it boasts fresh aromas of lychee, white peach, and hints of green melon. Medium to full-bodied, but not heavy or too rich, the palate is complex and layered. It offers an elegant, soft, velvety texture with fruity flavors, making it an ideal aperitif or a perfect companion to seafood like sashimi. Beautifully crafted. Loved it.

Dugat-Py Moyzeres Chambertin Grand Cru 2018

Beyond its clear, bright, hypnotizing crimson color, the Dugat-Py Moyzeres Chambertin 2018 reveals attractive, freshly crushed red cherries and berries mixed with earthy, spicy, and floral notes on the nose. The palate combines freshness, elegance, refinement, balance, and length with sexiness, richness, complexity, and juiciness. The mid-palate is luxurious and concentrated, with integrated tannins, remarkable acidity, and a long-lasting aftertaste. It is a perfect blend of grace and equilibrium, showcasing the extraordinary quality of the 2018 vintage. Although open and easy to drink now, it will undoubtedly benefit from a few years of cellaring. Delightful wine! Loved it.

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2005

La Mission Haut-Brion 2005 is a stunning wine! The opening displays enticing blackberry, cedar, and tobacco aromas, mingling with earthy notes and menthol nuances. Medium-bodied, the palate is refined, elegant, ample, supple, generous, and incredibly well-balanced between the ripeness of the fruit, the refreshing acidity, and the fine tannins, providing respectively juiciness, freshness, elegance, complexity, texture, and structure to this splendid example of this great vintage. Loved it.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: While on the yacht

Opened over the weekend 

while working on the yacht.

Krug Champagne Grande Cuvee 170eme Edition Brut NV

Krug Grande Cuvée is, in my opinion, the best high-end entry-level Champagne out there. Although each edition has its own character, personality, and taste, some being fresher, lighter, richer, dryer or more mineral, they are all superbly crafted Cuvées. I have been serving it as our Champagne of choice to welcome people on the yacht and select it occasionally for private and corporate events. The Grande Cuvée 170ème Édition blends 195 wines from 12 different years. The youngest is from 2014, and the oldest is from 1998. Its remarkable expression and elegance are the fruits of resting for seven years in Krug's cellars before disgorgement. Patience is a virtue in Champagne. This sophisticated champagne results from over 20 years of meticulous craftsmanship, and every sip is a delight for your taste buds. (I think I deserve some free bottles for advertising it with such passion 😊👍🥂)

Philippe Colin Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019

Although I tried it not long ago, I did not remember it being so voluptuous, ample, generous, rich, buttery, almost sweet with yellow and exotic fruit nuances. It is virtually "New World" in a Burgundian way, thanks to good acidity and enough minerality to keep it balanced and vibrant. It is a lush, curvy, yet elegant, charming wine with much to give. Decanting it is a must. Loved it.

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2016

Now you all know that I'm biased when it comes to "Haut-Brion" and "La Mission Haut-Brion", as these two wines have been at the top of the list of my favourite wines for the past 30 years. Yet, this La Mission 2016 was absolutely stunning. Beyond its bright colour and enticing aromas, it combined freshness, juiciness, complexity, grace and elegance with character and sophistication while retaining some earthiness, great acidity and fine integrated tannins, providing both texture and structure from the attack to the long and lingering finish. I opened it about 1 hour and a half before serving. It was gorgeous!

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: "Envie d’Hiver", or the illusion of Instagram pictures, and Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2008

 

"Envie d’Hiver", 

or the illusion of Instagram pictures, 

and Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2008

Winter in Hong Kong can be gloomy and depressing, cold, and usually covered by a thick, immovable blanket of grey clouds. So, I thought it to be amusing to start this post with a catchy French title "Envie d'Hiver", which translates as "longing for winter", while I actually feel the total opposite.

I'm not a winter person, except maybe when in the mountains, skiing and having a good time, (which I have not done in a long time), and thus, I cannot wait for winter to be over already. In fact, I'm like a "Marmotte". I could hibernate for 3 months straight to escape winter and wake up with spring, no problem.

The only good thing about winter, despite the magical sight of snow, the fireplace's heat, and hot chocolate, is the craving for comfy, earthy, fulfilling, and utterly satisfying food and wine, to warm up your body and brighten up your mood.

And the great thing about food and wine is that they both bring people together, and enhance conversations, with smiles and laughter, resulting in happy moments and good memories. That's why I love working with wine and love my job, as opening a bottle is always a good excuse to meet people and share a moment.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to meet Florian (@donvolnay) and Melanie (a young intern in his company), two sympathetic and ambitious young wine lovers, who brought this bottle of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2008, one of my favorite Bordeaux, making our meeting even more enjoyable.

After enjoying each other's company, while drinking a glass of this succulent wine, they left the rest of the bottle with me to bring it home.

 

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac Leognan 2008

Average Market Price HKD 2,150 ( Euros 256 / USD 274)

Respectively on the nose and palate, the wine boasted aromas and flavors of plum, dark fruits, licorice, earth, and graphite, with light oaky nuances. The palate is forward, opened, generous, and layered with ripe dark fruits and earthy tones, friendly even if somewhat a bit austere, yet nicely balanced between the fruit, the acidity, and the present and firm yet integrated tannins, bringing both structure and texture. Agreeably coating the palate thru the lingering finish. What a lovely wine!

It was very much appreciated and drank beautifully. Thank you, Florian.

In fact, I must say that, from recent experiences, it seems that many 2008 vintage Bordeaux are opening and drinking beautifully now.  

In confidence, I will say that it is normal, (in my opinion), for both, Chateau Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, as they are not wines to drink in their youth, as they usually take about 15 years minimum to open and start to fully express themselves and continue to defy time for decades with their great aging potentials. I love them both.          

 

So, what does "the illusion of Instagram pictures" has to do with it?

Well, I wanted to take a picture for my IG account, but the bottle with the glass alone seemed boring. 

So, I added the cans of Cassoulet (one of my favorite winter comfy foods). That's all I had on hand to make the picture more interesting and appealing. Yet, I must say that is definitely not the best food-wine pairing, as something heartier from the Southwest of France, like a Cahors (Malbec) or a Madiran (Tannat), would have been a much better pairing with the Cassoulet and its "Saucisses de Toulouse".   

I also added the book to create a dark, cozy background, set the ambiance, and enhance the wine. Except that, (and I’m sure the connoisseur noticed it), "Grand Cru" (by Remington Norman) is about Burgundy Grand Crus, and thus has nothing to do with Bordeaux. 

Yet, the book title "Grand Cru" was an "echo" (a "wink" or a "metaphor" if you prefer) to "La Mission Haut-Brion", which is often considered as the "6th" "Premier Grand Cru Classé", and/or, often referred to as a "Grand Cru Classé", while it is a "Cru Classé de Graves".

And that's how, very often, Instagram pictures are set up with things that are not related and/or have nothing to do with each other, but seem to fit together, creating the perfect illusion of a good picture with items that are related and belong with each other, while the reality is otherwise.      

However, look at this picture again. The wine + the cans + the book make for a comfy and somewhat sophisticated illusion of a wintery ambiance, doesn't it? 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Weekend Quintet

Weekend Quintet

Over the weekend, I had the chance to open, taste and serve these beautiful ladies: 

Denis Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St Jacques 2015 (x 3)

Armand Rousseau Mazy Chambertin Grand Cru 2015

Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 2016

Although they were all very young, fresh, and aromatic, and showed great potential for aging, the Burgundy drank wonderfully. Yet, La Mission Haut-Brion took the longest to open up and was only starting to emerge after 3 hours of decanting. LMHB is definitely too young for now. 

Full descriptions soon on my blog at www.ledomduvin.com 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

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@chateaulamissionhautbrion 

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