2024 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan

Based on 56.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29.2% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, the 2024 La Chapelle De La Mission Haut-Brion is well-made and should be outstanding, with a pure, medium-bodied, elegant, and finesse-driven style. Ripe red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, and some loamy earth notes all shine here, and it has fine tannins, juicy, integrated acidity, and just a charming, satisfying style.

High aromatics on the nose, and lovely vibrant fruit, ripe apples, cranberry, raspberry fruits, fresh acidities but crunchy and full of flavour. Austerity on the finish, but this is full of sappy charm, 26hl/h yield, 4.9% press, 31% new oak.

A blend of 56.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29.2% Merlot and 14.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2024 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is fresh and perfumed, offering up aromas of peonies, dark berries and green bell pepper. Moderately weighted and sappy, it's layered and youthfully introverted, underpinned by somewhat brittle tannins and concluding with a fresh, elegant finish.

56.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29.2% Merlot, 14.5% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Open and expressive. Soft and round. Fresh but the acidity a little excessive. Light- to medium-bodied for earlier drinking. (JL)