Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion

The estate's origins trace to the 16th century when the land belonged to the Lestonnac family. In 1682, the vineyard passed to the Lazarist Fathers (Congregation of the Mission), the religious order for which it is named. They cultivated vines for nearly 130 years until the property was confiscated during the French Revolution. Frederic Otto Woltner purchased the estate in 1919 and the family modernized the property, building its modern reputation. Domaine Clarence Dillon acquired La Mission in November 1983, along with La Tour Haut-Brion and Laville Haut-Brion, uniting it with neighboring Haut-Brion for the first time.

• The Lazarists named the estate 'La Mission' during their 1682-1792 stewardship
• Won a gold medal at the 1862 London World's Fair, establishing early international recognition
• The Woltner family ran the estate from 1919 until the 1983 sale to Domaine Clarence Dillon
• Now shares technical team and resources with Chateau Haut-Brion while maintaining a distinct identity

La Mission's vineyards straddle the communes of Talence and Pessac within Pessac-Leognan, sitting on deep Gunzian glacial gravels with iron-rich clay subsoil. The terroir is geologically similar to neighboring Haut-Brion but produces a distinctly more structured and powerful wine. The warmer microclimate of the Pessac suburbs allows earlier ripening than the Médoc. Total planted area is 29.16 hectares, the majority in Talence.

• Deep Gunzian glacial gravels over iron-rich clay subsoil, providing natural drainage and mineral character
• Located directly across the road from Chateau Haut-Brion on the same gravelly plateau
• Warmer Pessac microclimate typically allows harvest 7 to 10 days earlier than the Médoc
• Red plantings: 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.8% Merlot, 10.4% Cabernet Franc

Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted using both optical and mechanical selection. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with the resulting wine aged in French oak for 16 to 22 months in approximately 75 to 100% new barrels depending on the vintage. The estate uses gravity-fed transfers to minimize oxidation. Production averages 6,000 to 7,000 cases of the grand vin annually, with additional production of the second wine La Chapelle de La Mission and a dry white.

• Aged 16 to 22 months in French oak, with 75 to 100% new barrels by vintage
• Optical and mechanical sorting ensure precise grape selection
• Grand vin production of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 cases per year
• La Chapelle de La Mission serves as the second wine

La Mission is known for producing more structured, concentrated wines than its neighbor Haut-Brion. The signature profile features graphite, pencil lead, and slate minerality layered with dark fruit, smoke, and savory complexity. While powerful in youth, the wines develop remarkable tertiary complexity with age, typically showing drinking windows of 30 to 50+ years in great vintages.

• Signature graphite and pencil lead minerality distinguishes it from other Graves estates
• More muscular and concentrated than Haut-Brion, though sharing similar gravelly terroir
• Top vintages offer 30 to 50+ years of aging potential
• Robert Parker awarded the 2000 vintage a perfect 100 points

Despite being classified as Cru Classe de Graves rather than holding First Growth status, La Mission consistently produces wines that compete with the First Growths in blind tastings, critic scores, and market pricing. It is frequently called Bordeaux's 'sixth First Growth' and commands prices well above most classified Graves estates. The combination of exceptional terroir, meticulous winemaking, and the Dillon family's commitment to quality positions it among the world's elite wine estates.

• Often referred to as Bordeaux's 'sixth First Growth' by critics and collectors
• Pricing regularly approaches or matches First Growth levels for top vintages
• The 1989, 2000, 2009, 2010, and 2015 vintages are particularly celebrated
• One of only 16 estates included in the Graves classification for red wines