History
Château La Mission Haut-Brion's history dates back to 1540 when Bordeaux merchant Arnaud de Lestonnac purchased a plot of land opposite Château Haut-Brion. He married Marie, the sister of Jean de Pontac, owner of Château Haut-Brion, and began cultivating the vineyard. The estate was later transferred to the Lazarist priests in 1682, who developed the vineyard and improved wine quality. During the French Revolution, the estate was confiscated and sold to Martial-Victor Vaillant in 1792. In 1821, it was sold to the Chiapella family from New Orleans, who continued to improve the vineyard and winemaking techniques. The estate was sold to Établissements Duval de Paris in 1884 and then to Frédéric Otto Woltner in 1919, marking the beginning of the modern era. The Woltner family, particularly Henri, significantly improved the estate's reputation. In 1983, Domaine Clarence Dillon acquired the estate, continuing the legacy of improvement and restoration under the Dillon family's ownership.
Terroir
The terroir of Château La Mission Haut-Brion is characterized by deep gravel over clay, sand, and chalk in the topsoil, with more gravel and clay beneath. This unique soil composition enhances drainage and vine health, contributing to the wine's distinct structure and aromatic depth. The vineyard is situated on two ridges of gravel hills, reaching up to 25 meters in elevation, and is perfectly positioned between the Ars and Peugue streams, which provide moisture during hot, dry vintages. The gravel, comprised of small pebbles formed of various types of quartz, lies upon a subsoil of clay, sand, limestone, and shelly sand, formed during the Tertiary and Quaternary eras. This ancient soil structure benefits from excellent orientation and natural drainage, further enhanced by a hydrographic network of small watercourses.
