Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan 2009

About

Mr Clarence Dillon, an eminent American financier, visited Bordeaux in 1934. He fell under the spell of Chateau Haut-Brion and recognized the unique opportunity of acquiring such a legendary estate: he had discovered a precious jewel waiting to shine once again. Although famous for centuries, Haut-Brion was going through difficult times. Mr Clarence Dillon purchased the estate in 1935 and this was the beginning of his family’s long commitment and dedication to this famous chateau, as well as to the wines of Bordeaux. Every improvement and innovation since then has been guided by a love of perfection, and Chateau Haut-Brion has remained worthy of its noble heritage thanks to the men and women responsible for implementing them. In 1983, the Dillon family also acquired the neighboring estate, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion. Since the 2011 vintage, the company is also proud to represent one of the finest wines from Saint Émilion: Chateau Quintus. Today, Domaine Clarence Dillon, has the unique privilege of producing five rare and exceptional estate wines of unequalled reputation as well as their second wines. Domaine Clarence Dillon’s expertise, founded on five centuries of history, is reflected in every wine produced by the estate. In 2005, seventy years after Clarence Dillon’s arrival, his great-grandson, Prince Robert de Luxembourg, began writing a new chapter of the Dillon family’s history by establishing Clarence Dillon Wines to produce and sell the first premium brand wine in Bordeaux: “Clarendelle”.

Give Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan 2009 two or three minutes in the glass and begins to blossom, offering pure dark cherry, cassis and blackberry fruits, crushed stone, cola and a touch of graphite. The palate is superb and disguising the 14.7% alcohol well, the tannins strident and arching over the wine. There is a saline/spicy notes just on the finish that leaves the mouth tingling.