Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2014

Shows breed, density and great freshness, with silky, extremely fine-grained tannins, impressive tension and length.

The 2014 La Mission Haut Brion is a blend of 54% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked between 15 September and 8 October and raised in 55% new oak. It has retained that engagingly fresh and vibrant bouquet, the bashful nature that it showed in barrel replaced by a more outgoing personality. This is an exquisite bouquet with pure black fruit, cold stone, a touch of black olive and later a suggestion of boysenberry preserve. The palate is still structured and considering that a majority is Merlot, quite masculine. There remains some new oak to be fully assimilated, although there is clearly the fruit to soak that up. It comes more alive on the second half with a lovely spiciness and impressive persistence. It will have more to give down the line and the strictness implies that this La Mission Haut Brion should be afforded a decade in the cellar before it will show what it can do.

Fleshy and very compact, with layers of dark fig, black currant paste and blackberry reduction still sorting themselves out. Sports a serious spine of tar while a well-roasted apple wood element forms the backdrop on the dense finish. The range and density set this apart. Should be rather long-lived for the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2030. 6,300 cases made.

Fresh attack, dominated by perfectly ripe late-summer fruits. A floating, gossamer-like structure; the tannins are deceptively fine and tight, with blackberry and raspberry fruit firmly in check. A lovely wine, with medium- to long-term potential for pleasure. 54% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc.

The typicity of La Mission is really here. Aromas of iodine, oyster shell, currants and orange peel are evident. Full-bodied, tight and tannic, with a muscular, toned texture that holds the wine down for now, but it’s waiting to release its joy and true nature. Fine-grained. Give it until 2023.

The 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion offers bright, vivid scents that immediately captivate the senses: black fruit, cedar, pencil box, and light minty aromas. It’s much better than its First Growth neighbor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very harmonious, and shows lovely depth with a gentle grip. This is a sophisticated and entrancing 2014, one of my favorites in Bordeaux. Highly recommended. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Fleshy, bright, exciting and sweet, this full-bodied, tannic, rich and structured wine delivers a multifaceted finish of cassis, tobacco and dark berry but demands at least a decade to rise to its riches. The wine was made from a blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon with a pH of 3.67. 94-95 Pts

The 2014 Château La Mission Haut Brion is slightly more elegant and pretty compared to the richer, slightly more masculine Haut Brion. A blend of 54% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Cabernet Franc, it shows a kiss of red fruits in its core of darker currants, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, vanilla bean, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, impeccable balance, fine tannin, and a great, great finish, it’s a downright classy La Mission that will benefit from 4–5 years of bottle age and keep for 20+.

54% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with lilac highlights at the rim. Subtle, complex bouquet with very fine herbal nuances on top—mint, thyme, and rosemary—underpinned by black-berried contours, chocolate, dark noble woods, fresh nutshells, and tobacco. On the palate, firm, demanding, masculine; the astringency indicates a potential of a good 50 years. This in turn means that this long-lived Mission will likely reach its first peak only in about 20 years. Impatient wine geeks should keep their hands off, so that true Mission lovers don’t miss out.

54% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with a violet sheen at the rim. Subtle, complex bouquet with very fine herbal nuances on top—mint, thyme and rosemary—followed by black-berry contours, chocolate, dark noble woods, fresh walnut shells and tobacco. On the palate, firm, demanding, masculine; the astringency suggests a potential of a good 50 years. This, in turn, means that this long-lived Mission will likely first be encountered at its peak in around 20 years. Impatient wine freaks should keep their hands off! So that true Mission lovers don’t miss out.

(54% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon) Deep, dark, complex bouquet with plum, tobacco, currants, truffle, mocha. Concentrated, powerful palate with good fruit, lots of tannin, varied dark aromatics, a muscular, dense structure, and a very long, vigorous finish with plenty of after-aromas. 18/20 2024 - 2045

This is a brilliant vintage for both wines of the Haut-Brion stable at the time. I remember them standing out during En Primeur, and wow this is still delivering, right up there at the top of the lineup. Fleshy and finessed, measured, gourmet, grilled raspberry and red cherry, edges of sweeter damson, even crème de cassis, with tobacco, slate, saffron and turmeric adding layers to sink into. Great length and full of fragrance. Knockout. Jean-Philippe Delmas estate director, Jean-Philippe Masclef technical director.

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion needs a swirl or two to unlock notes of blackberry pie, creme de cassis, and espresso plus nuances of truffle, tapenade, and fragrant soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, with spicy accents to the black fruit flavors, finishing long and decadent. Tasted blind with the Southwold Group in London in February 2024.

A singular, mysterious nose revealing notes of earth, moss, olive pit and a bitter hint of caper berry. The palate is like a high‑definition, multidimensional image, with chiselled black fruits and wonderfully fluid juice. The flavors are very fine, with persistent notes of tamari, oregano, curry leaf, and that mouthwatering core of black fruit.

Ruby red with purplish highlights. What aromatic intensity! Great depth and complexity. Notes of raspberry, blackcurrant, licorice and a touch of caramel. The palate is fruity and powerful. The body shows breadth, power and, nonetheless, balance. The tannins reveal themselves very slowly and are compact. They stand up perfectly to the acidic structure, which imparts superb freshness. The fruit still needs to gain in intensity, but the foundations are laid. If the wine is already great now, it has the potential to become truly outstanding, provided the aromatic character gains in intensity. Wait.

Lovely nose! The nose is delicate, elegant, racy, with a hint of minerality. It reveals notes of blackcurrant and fine blackberry, with a subtle touch of spices as well as discreet floral notes and Sichuan pepper. The palate is fruity, indulgent, mineral, smooth and straight, in the house style, with a touch of tension and a lovely velvety texture. On the palate, this wine shows notes of blackberry and strawberry, with lighter raspberry, along with discreet notes of fig, licorice (Zan), and toast. The tannins are fine and elegant. Good length.

Beautiful dark, intense color. Lovely, highly aromatic nose—refined, fruity, noble. Round on the attack, then juicy mid-palate, flavorful, with a creamy touch; the wine delivers plenty of flavor on the back palate and fine tannins. Very nice, delicately smoky persistence. It is better decanted.