2025 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion needs a little shaking to wake up energetic notes of black and red plums, fresh blackberries, and rose water, followed by nuances of crushed rocks, forest floor, and charcoal. Medium-bodied, the palate is light on its feet and wonderfully shimmery, delivering mineral-laced black fruit with wonderful tension and a long, pure finish. (LPB)

The 2025 La Mission Haut Brion Rouge shows a sappy, lush core of dark red and black fruit, unfolding into layers of wild blueberries and ripe bramble fruits. A lifted smoky florality runs through the wine, giving it an aromatic, almost ethereal edge, while accents of sandalwood perfume and incense add warmth and complexity. Beneath the fruit and spice, notes of dark chocolate emerge, grounding the profile with a subtle, bittersweet depth. The texture is silky yet structured, carried by very fine, finely knit tannins that provide shape without weight. Overall, it’s a wine of contrast, presenting generously on the surface, but detailed and perfumed underneath, with a lingering finish that echoes fruit, smoke, and spice in equal measure.