La Chapelle De La Mission Haut Brion 2016 (750ML)

94 WA / 94 JS / 93 DE / 93 WS / 93 JD / 92 VM

The 2016 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is blended of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot and 21.5% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it absolutely sings of red roses, black tea and tilled black soil with a core of crushed blackberries, Morello cherries and cassis plus a hint of cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a great intensity of ripe black berries and floral layers, framed by soft, silken tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

Attractive, earthy and cedary aromas across ripe, mixed berries, leading to a deep-set palate with succulent and approachable tannins that deliver a very long, succulent and flavorful finish. Holds bright, fresh and long. Second wine of Château La Mission-Haut-Brion. Try from 2023. - James Suckling

The success of La Mission is even more impressive as this was not an easy vintage for the Haut-Brion stable. They are close to the city here, and things got hot on their gravel soils. It is one of the main reasons that alcohols are lower than in recent years, because various plots shut down and stopped accumulating sugar. Although yields were high at 52hl/ha, the extra volume was mostly put towards the third wine. They have performed an amazing sleight of hand here, as La Chapelle has plenty of the signature of its brilliant big brother. There is less persistency but still plenty of juicy, ripe fruits and a toasty edge to the aromatics that is a classic signature of the house. There is a gap between the two wines, perhaps more than in some other years, but it's a space where you would be very happy to sit and enjoy the view. From a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot and 21.5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 25% new oak. 3.6pH. - Jane Anson, Decanter

Vivid, with sleek cassis and crushed plum flavors stretching out nicely as this airs in the glass, carried by a racy, tarry edge and backed by ample sweet spice and tobacco notes. The late echo of roasted apple wood is pleasant and the finish has an electric feel. Best from 2022 through 2035. 3,600 cases made. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Looking first at the second wine of the estate, the 2016 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion is 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It’s a head turner of a second wine and has plenty of grand vin character, yet it’s more front end-loaded, with beautiful tobacco leaf, cigar smoke, graphite, and earthy red and black fruits all emerging from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, deep, balanced, with a sexy yet also elegant texture, it’s a winner to enjoy over the coming 2+ decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2016 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion is just as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Fresh, silky and inviting, the Chapelle is all class. Floral notes lead into a core of expressive red cherry and plum fruit. Medium in body, silky and exquisite in its balance, the 2016 has so much to recommend it. I would prefer to give the wine a few years in bottle to allow a broader range of aromas and flavors to develop, but even today, the Chapelle is gorgeous. The 21% Cabernet Franc in the blend adds striking brightness and perfume throughout. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media