2012 Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion

Popped and poured the first glass, left the rest in the decanter which was good enough in my view, although a nice 2-3h decant probably wouldn‘t hurt either.
Medium plus intensity, elegant and initially more fruit forward reminding me of mixed wild berries. Secondary aromas from aging are only just now starting to show, but still very faint.
Mint and menthol become more and more dominant in the glass over time (give it 30-45 mins or so). On the palate well balanced and smooth to drink with pleasant freshness. ... A few more years of cellaring would probably add another facette or two.
I have made the experience on various accasions that second wines of big names tend to be overpriced relative to their quality - but not the case with this one.
(sirpat007 on Cellartracker 14.7.2018)

The 2012 vintage was uneven from bud break, which was disturbed by a cool, wet month of April, to ve´raison (color change), which took place over a long period.
Fortunately, the months of July and August 2012 were ideal: warm and dry. This fine summer weather enabled to do everything possible in the vineyard in order to make up for the poor spring weather.
For two months, the team worked meticulously to make ripening as homogeneous as possible, and removed any green grapes at ve´raison. The harvest began under sunny skies.
2012 is a truly fine vintage for early-ripening terroirs!

Cuvée 2012: Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 56%, Merlot 28.5%, Cabernet Franc 15.5%

Abfüller: Chateau Mission Haut-Brion, 33400 Talence
Weintyp: Rotwein, gehaltvoll herb
Rebsorte(n): Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Alkoholgehalt: 13% vol.
Weingesetzliche Bezeichnung: Pessac-Leognan AC
Region: Bordeaux - Graves
Land: Frankreich
Trinkempfehlung: Großer Wein, der sorgfältig behandelt werden will - dann belohnt er Sie mit einem außergewöhnlichen Geschmackserlebnis!
Verschluss: Naturkork
Allergenhinweis: enthält Sulfite