La Mission Haut-Brion 2020
Our En Primeur collection is a selection of vintages available for pre-order.
100 points - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, April 2023
The 2020 La Mission Haut-Brion is a brilliant effort that exhibits a level of balance and integration that are impressive in such a powerful young Bordeaux. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with burning embers, pencil shavings, violets and smoked black tea, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered, elegantly muscular profile, its brooding core of fruit framed by a generous endowment of powdery tannin that tempers the ripeness of the vintage. Checking in at 14.7% alcohol, it's nonetheless more classically styled than the more flamboyant 2019 vintage or even the slowly maturing 2010 which I re-tasted alongside for context.
“First, we had to manage with the very humid spring—we had to fight against mildew,” Deputy Managing Director Jean-Philippe Delmas of Domaine Clarence Dillon informed me. “It was challenging. Regardless for whether you were using natural products or not. So, yields were already lower than in 2019. Then we had almost two months without a drop of water—mid-June to mid-August. We decided for the first time not to do the leaf thinning. It was not so much because of the heat, but it was SO dry. Not so many bunches were dropped in July. This year there was less intervention in the vineyards. When you intervene, you modify the profile of the wines. We started to harvest the whites very early. What is rare this year is that we finished the whites in August. It was a very early year for the whites. For the reds, the maceration was a bit shorter. We used more Cabernet Franc for all the grand vins. This was definitely a Cabernet Franc year! For La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, the proportion reflects exactly the proportion we have in the fields.” - William Keeley
From cellar-to-cellar, or cellar to shelf, we maintain the highest standards, thanks to close relationships with the finest producers of wine across the globe, ensuring authenticity.
We maintain strict, direct, temperature- controlled delivery from the cellar to the customer, guaranteeing the integrity of each vintage’s character and flavor profile.
En primeur is a long-held, bordelaise wine industry practice which enables the trading of wines well before their scheduled bottle release. Historically, producers offered their customers a stake in a future vintage by allowing them to purchase before bottling, royally benefitting their clients at significantly reduced prices when compared to the final retail price. This win-win tradition is a mutually beneficial agreement that successfully carried on to this day.
We are delighted to take part in this tradition of winemaking history and invite you to join in and take advantage of this unique, coveted offering. Sourcing only the best Châteaux from Bordeaux, these rare wines will never be found at a more competitive price point than in their en primeur release. Secure your allocation now by pre-ordering your desired amount in any quantity.
*This pre-order is a commitment to buy the wines upon their designated release. Pricing predictions are based on direct consultations with the Chateaux but may vary upon release. In the unlikely instance where pricing predictions exceed or fall short, customers will be notified and given the opportunity to either cancel their order and receive a full refund or purchase the wines at the amended En Primeur release price.
Our curated collection prioritizes provenance and secure wine handling from start to finish. We deeply understand and appreciate the craft, passion and time that is dedicated to produce each bottle, and we honor it by respecting the factors that influence a wine’s ideal maturation. When you purchase a bottle from Wines of Kings, we guarantee the following:
- Bottle claim integrity (zero fraudulence)
- Direct sourcing
- Minimal handling
- Consistent environment regulated cellaring
- Optimal temperature and humidity regulated storage
- Storage free of light and vibration