Château La Mission Haut-Brion Collection

About

Directly across the road from its sister estate Château Haut-Brion in Pessac-Léognan, Château La Mission Haut-Brion is widely revered by critics and collectors as the "Sixth First Growth" of Bordeaux. Founded in the 16th century and tended for decades by the Lazarist priests, this historic estate was acquired in 1983 by Domaine Clarence Dillon (owners of Haut-Brion). Under the stewardship of Prince Robert of Luxembourg and the Delmas family, La Mission Haut-Brion stands as one of the most powerful, distinctive, and immortal expressions of Graves terroir. The winemaking philosophy at Château La Mission Haut-Brion balances muscular extraction with soaring aromatic nuance. Where Haut-Brion displays ethereal, silky refinement, La Mission is celebrated for its deeper color, firmer tannic structure, and signature aromatics of warm gravel, crushed truffles, smoked cigar box, and ripe dark fruit. Terroir & Viticulture Soil & Geography: Located on a deep, high gravel rise ( croupe ) interwoven with sandy clay, limestone, and iron-rich subsoils ( crasse de fer ). The heat-retaining river stones ensure complete phenolic maturity, while the clay subsoil imparts immense body and mid-palate density. Grape Varieties & Farming: Cabernet Sauvignon (~48–50%): Drives the wine's intense structure, age-worthy tannins, and dark berry, graphite, and cedar notes. Merlot (~40–45%): Infuses plush volume, sweet black fruit, and a voluptuous, velvety texture. Cabernet Franc (~7–10%): Adds energetic aromatic lift, dried herb notes, subtle floral character, and spicy complexity. Sémillon (~65–80%) & Sauvignon Blanc (~20–35%): Grown on dedicated white-wine parcels to produce the legendary, ultra-limited Grand Vin Blanc. Cellar Precision: Hand-picked grapes undergo rigorous sorting and parcel-by-parcel fermentation in custom temperature-controlled vats. The red Grand Vin ages for 18–22 months in French oak barrels (typically 70–80% new) to sculpt its formidable tannins into seamles