Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2012, Pessac-Léognan

Few estates inspire the kind of quiet awe that La Mission does. Its vineyards sit just across the road from Haut-Brion, on deep gravel that has delivered some of Bordeaux’s longest-lived wines since the 19th century. The style is typically darker, smokier, and more brooding than its famous neighbor.

2012 is a vintage that rewarded those who worked carefully. La Mission did exactly that. The wine is all about graphite, dark cherry, and that unmistakable Pessac-Léognan smoke. The tannins are fine and polished, and the balance is already in a beautiful place. Serve it with lamb, and it becomes one of those pairings you think about later.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion