La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion 2009

WA93: Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. Nobody could quite believe how well the Chapelle de la Mission ‘09 showed under blind conditions. It is endowed with a quintessential Graves-like nose with ebullient black fruit, black olive, singed leather and a touch of graphite. It is very composed and focused, the oak very well embroidered into the fruit profile. The palate is backward and tightly coiled at the moment with insistent grip towards the bright, luscious finish that manages to maintain tension and poise. This is offering so much pleasure now - it will be interesting to see how it evolves. Tasted January 2013.