LA CHAPELLE DE LA MISSION
2020 Pessac-Léognan
A powerful 2020 for a second wine with blackberry, black olive and blueberry aromas and flavors. Blackcurrants as well. It’s full-bodied yet racy and structured with a long and intense finish. Give it three or four years to soften. Better after 2026. Rating: 96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
Confident tannic frame that holds the damson and charred black cherry and pomegranate fruit in place, along with spiced turmeric and smoked earth. Things widen out through the mid palate, and the texture becomes appealingly velvety. Full of joy. Harvest September 7th to 29. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Feb 2023)
The 2020 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion offers plenty of ripe brambly red fruit on the nose: cranberry and wild strawberry, hints of blue fruit in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, rounded tannins that lend a very smooth texture and approachability. Red fruit merge into blacker fruit towards the second half that displays fine sapidity and quite a persistent finish. There is something sedate about this La Chapelle, comfortable in its own skin. Drinking range: 2024 - 2034 Rating: 90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
The 2020 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion is rich, dense and so inviting, right from the very first taste. Ripe red purplish/berry fruit, rose petal, spice and gravel all meld together in the glass, but what impresses most about La Chappelle is its exceptional balance. Aromatics, fruit and structure are all so well-balanced. The 2020 is an especially fine La Chappelle. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)
Black cherries, currants, tobacco, and leafy herb notes all emerge from the 2020 La Chapelle De La Mission Haut-Brion. and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and just a big, rich, yet concentrated vibe that's very much in the style of the vintage. It's going to have two decades of longevity. Rating: 92-94 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)
You are immediately set at ease by the confidence and sheer easy appeal of this wine. A silky and seductive La Chapelle that rivals plenty of first wines in this vintage. The texture is rich and taut at first, then softens in the glass, with a charge of freshness that keeps the momentum and the energy high. Not many wines that rival the 2010 and 2016s, but here it very much does - exuberant with chocolate and cracked pepper but pulls back at the right moment. Harvests from 7th to 29th September. I love it. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)
55.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44.7% Merlot Dark purplish crimson. Subtle, saline nose. Really gets the saliva flowing. The tannins are not the supplest – slightly sandy-textured – but the fruit is very dense and correct with real life to it. Medium weight with great balance. Racy wine with good drive – though you'll have to wait awhile for the tannins to recede. Drinking range: 2027 - 2041 Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)
The nose is far more open and floral than I expected and while I am aware one cannot smell texture, there is a kindly, open, silky nature to the perfume. The palate follows up this cordial theme with a generous, open and expressive flavour and it already seems well integrated and balanced. The tannins are feisty, as always, but they are more than compensated but the open and gregarious fruit notes on the mid-palate. There is discreet tension here and this brings a refreshing nature to the finish, but there is nothing dry or closed about the experience and this makes it one of the most forward La Chapelles in recent years. Rating: 17.5/20 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2021)
Château La Mission Haut Brion
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.