Founded in the 17th century by the Lazarist order of priests and brothers (also known as the Congregation of the Mission), La Mission Haut Brion was confiscated by the French government a century later, during the French Revolution. In 1982, the Dillon family, owners of Château Haut Brion, a First growth in the 1855 classification located just the other side of the Arcachon road, purchased the estate from the Woltner family.

Now virtually an island of vines in an urban setting, the 20 hectare vineyard has a remarkable subsoil of large-sized gravel on a deep layer of clay and sand.

La Mission Haut-Brion produces elegant, very aromatic wines with a refined, somewhat smoky bouquet typical of the appellation. With age, La Mission Haut-Brion often takes on hints of old leather and black truffles.

Since 2006, Château La Tour Haut-Brion, belonging to the same owners, is incorporated into La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, the second wine of La Mission Haut-Brion.

In the Bottle

La Mission-Haut-Brion has always produced outstanding wines in certain vintages. For instance, among the post-war years, 1949, 1955, and 1959 Mission are mythical. The 1961 and 1975 La Mission Haut-Brion are the stars of the Woltner years, before the estate was purchased by the Dillon family of Haut Brion. Since the change of ownership, the 1989 and 2000 vintages are among La Mission's finest successes.

After a slightly weaker period in the 90s, improvements in recent vintages show the current owners' desire for La Mission to be on a par with its illustrious neighbor on the other side of the road. The 2005 Mission Haut Brion and 2006 vintages will certainly be benchmarks in the history of La Mission Haut-Brion.

Before increasing their prices in 2005, and especially in 2006, this prestigious estate represented a very good Price/Quality ratio and an opportunity to enjoy what Bordeaux does best at a relatively reasonable price. However, this period has become a thing of the past...

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Mission-Haut-Brion, La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion (second vin), La Tour Haut Brion (incorporated in the second wine La Chapelle as of the 2006 vintage)