Fabulous nose of spice, mushrooms, blueberries and blackberries follows through to a full body, with firm tannins and a silky tannins. This is so savory and beautiful. Best second wine ever from La Mission. Give it until 2018 to open, but hard to wait.

– jamessuckling.com, Nov 2013

The 2010 La Chapelle de la Mission, which includes the production from the now-extinct La Tour Haut-Brion vineyard, is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, which is a high percentage for the latter grape. Fleshy, succulent and opulent along the lines of the 2009 (which did surprise me ), it is a big wine, with boatloads of glycerin and a classic Graves character of scorched earth, burning embers, charcoal, and plenty of black cherry and black currant fruit. The glycerin level is high, the fruit level impressive, and the purity and texture endearing. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #205, Feb 2013)

Deliciously tarry from the start, with a cauldron of steeped blackberry, boysenberry and pastis-soaked plum fruit melded to well-roasted apple wood and graphite notes. Intense and grippy, showing purity and polish. Should benefit from mid-term cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2030. 4,500 cases made.

– James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2013)

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion 2010 has a relatively simple bouquet with dusty black fruit, suggestions of an attic stacked with old furniture. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, plenty of dusky black fruit laced with black olive and a citric note joining towards the finish. Fine structure, quite grippy, but the finish is more promising than the start, leaving you with a positive impression. Tasted January 2014.

– eRobertParker.com, Mar 2014

Pessac Léognan (42% harvest, 14.8%) [47CS/27M/26CF] Gently minerally nose under the very ripe fruit; full bodied, finely tannic, no coarseness, and lively acidity which lightens and moderates the ‘weight’; brisk, sweet, red fruit fresh in flavour (from the high proportion of Cabernets), lively, intense and lightly minerally wine, with a good, gentle fruit persistence. Powerful nonetheless, where you do notice the alcoholic warmth and slight associated hardness. 2018-28+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2011]