The Wines

Bordeaux Blanc “Clarendelle”, Château Haut-Brion, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Clarendelle Bordeaux White is inspired by the subtle structure of Domaine Clarence Dillon white wines, containing the unique mystery of its rare and illustrious cousins. Clarendelle Bordeaux White is a delicate blend of two traditional Bordeaux varietals, Sémillon and Sauvignon, to which, in some years, a flourish of Muscadelle may be added.

Château Quintus, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Composed of 72.3% Merlot and 27.7% Cabernet Franc, harvested September 20 to October 8, the 2018 Quintus is deep purple-black in color and rolls sensuously out of the glass with very pure, perfumed notes of lilacs, lavender, plum preserves and chocolate-covered cherries giving way to notes of spice cake, cardamom, fenugreek and fragrant soil plus a touch of unsmoked cigars. The full, rich, seductive palate provides layer upon layer of perfumed black fruits and spicy nuances with a firm yet soft frame and oodles of freshness to lift the long finish. Beautifully done.

Wine Advocate- 96 Points

Château Quintus “Le Dragon de Quintus”, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France, 2018

The 2018 le Dragon de Quintus is a blend of 75.2% Merlot and 24.8% Cabernet Franc, harvested from September 20 to October 8. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vibrant kirsch, black raspberries and red and black plums scents, giving way to notions of cinnamon stick, violets and star anise plus a hint of camphor. Full-bodied and rich, with a beautiful velvety texture blanketing the vibrant fruit, it delivers a long, spice finish.

The Wine Advocate – 92 Points

Château Haut-Brion “Le Clarence de Haut-Brion”, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2018

A refined, silky red with currant, chocolate, walnut and leaf aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with very fine tannins and a polished, refined finish. Very sleek and creamy.

James Suckling – 97 points 

La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2018

The 2018 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is composed of 40.8% Merlot, 51.6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7.6% Cabernet Franc, harvested September 10 to October 2. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rocks up with ready-for-business scents of baked blueberries, raspberry compote and warm blackcurrants with touches of fungi, yeast extract, menthol and espresso plus a fragrant waft of red roses. Full-bodied, the palate has wonderful freshness lifting the black and red fruit preserves, framed by beautifully rounded tannins and finishing on a savory note.

The Wine Advocate – 93 Points

Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Although it emerges from a similar terroir and the same winemaking team, the 2018 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a dramatically different wine than the Haut-Brion and has a more concentrated, dense, powerful style that is all potential at this point. Dense purple-hued, with lots of crème de cassis, black cherries, smoked meats, lead pencil, graphite, and crushed stone aromatics, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated mid-palate, masses of ripe tannins, integrated acidity, and one hell of a finish. This blockbuster, backward, monster of a La Mission Haut-Brion needs to be forgotten for a good decade (or more) but is going to be just about immortal

Jeb Dunnuck – 100 points 

Château Haut-Brion, First Growth, Pessac-Lignan, Bordeaux, France, 2018

The 2018 Haut-Brion is composed of 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine needs a lot of swirling before it begins to release a whole complex melody of notes, one at a time to begin: tilled earth, followed by pronounced licorice, then crushed rocks, then the preserved plums. Eventually, it all comes together into a fascinating crescendo of intense crème de cassis, rose oil, wild blueberries and kirsch notes, giving way to quiet, persistent leitmotif scents of cinnamon stick, truffles and redcurrant jelly. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers all this and more, revealing tightly wound black fruit, red berry and exotic spice layers within a solid, wonderfully plush frame and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of earth and mineral sparks. This is a profound, highly intellectual, multilayered baby, which will require a good 7-8 years to begin to sing its incredible song, then should cellar a further 40 years at least. By way of reference, think 1989 with more restraint and even greater purity.

The Wine Advocate – 100 Points

Clarendelle “Amberwine”, Château Haut-Brion, Monbazillac, Southwest France, 2015

“Nose of ripe dry mango and peach slices, leading to complex burnt sugars and a long lingering finish, with balanced, candied citrus freshness.”

Silver, Silver_Points_92, International Wine Challenge

Château Haut-Brion

Château Haut-Brion is the oldest and by far the smallest of the “Premiers Grands Crus” vineyards of the Gironde 1855 classification. Chateau Haut-Brion is one of the few remaining family-owned domains of the Bordeaux region with a history going back to the 16th century. It has been owned by the American Dillon family since 1935.Thanks to its long history as one of Bordeaux’s most prestigious wines, the estate has left its mark on the region for centuries.

The vineyard covers an area of 51 hectares (about 126 acres). Slightly more than 48 hectares are planted with red grape varieties. The terrain at Haut-Brion, formed of two large mounds of a type of gravel known as Gunzian because it was deposited during the earliest geologic stage of the Pleistocene epoch, rises between 40 and 50 feet above the beds of the neighboring streams. This gravel consists of small stones, including various kinds of quartz, and it is these precious gems that help to give Chateau Haut-Brion’s wines their distinctive character. This expansive elevated reach of gravelly terrain, bounded at the north by the Le Peugue stream and at the south by the Le Serpent stream, has been called Haut -Brion at least as far back as the early years of the fifteenth century, as evidenced by ancient maps and deeds dating from this period. The sub-soil consists of a mixture of clay and sand.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

In 1664, Madame de Lestonnac bequeathed the domaine of La Mission Haut-Brion to the Peres Lazaristes, a congregation founded by Saint Vincent de Paul. The “good fathers” worked to restore their property to its rightful worth. After them, the Chiapella family (owners in the 19th century) and Woltner family (owners between 1919 and 1983) never stopped improving the vineyard and modernizing the cellars. Since 1983, the Dillon family, already owner of Château Haut-Brion, continues the same policy under the presidency of H.R.H. Prince Robert of Luxembourg.

Château Haut-Brion vs. Château La Mission Haut-Brion

At first glance, Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion seem incredibly similar—and in more ways than just their names. Sharing ownership and an appellation—with vineyards literally across the street from one another—both châteaux embody a history of producing excellent-quality Bordeaux wines. However, differences between the two affect the specific quality, value, and flavors of their respective wines.

History

Both châteaux boast an extensive history of incredible winemaking. Established in 1525, Château Haut-Brion was among the First Growths named in the 1855 classification. Château La Mission Haut-Brion was likewise founded in the early 16th century, though it was not granted First Growth classification.

It is hard to beat Haut-Brion at its best; this producer has been awarded more perfect scores from Wine Advocate than any of the other Firsts, with La Mission following close behind. Yet, while Haut-Brion wines tend to reach greater heights in terms of quality and renown in peak vintage years, La Mission is known for being more consistent.

Location

Because they are neighboring wineries, the weather in any given year affects both wineries similarly. In 2018, the weather was favorable, with ample rainfall but remarkably few losses to mildew. The terroir of the vineyards is also similar—although not exactly the same.

Both vineyards are located in the Pessac-Léognan region, with most of Château Haut-Brion’s vineyards in the Pessac commune and the majority of Château La Mission Haut-Brion’s vines growing in Talence. The soil composition in both châteaux’ vineyards is largely the same: deep gravel above a layer of clay and sand, with a mixture of various minerals (including quartz). Haut-Brion’s slopes reach ever-so-slightly higher than those of La Mission, which may offer an advantage in terms of higher concentration and stronger tannins. La Mission, meanwhile, adds a little more chalk into the mix, which provides excellent drainage to promote better growth.

Production

Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion are almost indistinguishable in terms of their vinification processes for their flagship red wines. Both are vinified in large stainless steel vats and aged in 100 percent new, French oak for an average of 22 to 24 months. Both are blended shortly after Malolactic fermentation and before aging to achieve a “purer” blend without the influence of the wooden barrels.

Château Haut-Brion has the lowest annual production average of all the First Growths—just around 8,000 to 10,000 cases per year. Yet, Château La Mission Haut-Brion produces even less, averaging 6,000 to 7,000 cases per year.

Choosing 2018 Château Haut-Brion vs. La Mission Haut-Brion for Your Portfolio

The 2018 Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion are highly collectible—and delectable—wines, either of which is worthy of adding to your portfolio. Both require a certain amount of cellar time if you buy them young, and drink beautifully if you are patient enough to let them fully mature. Both will resell for a high profit, although the 2018 Château Haut-Brion is likely to sell at a higher price point. Although only Château Haut-Brion can boast that coveted First Growth classification, Château La Mission Haut-Brion is also highly esteemed among connoisseurs and investors alike. In the end, your choice will likely depend on your personal preferences more than any other factor.