The 2005 La Mission Haut Brion, a Bordeaux Blend from the Pessac Leognan region of Bordeaux, France, is a wine that exemplifies elegance and depth. This vintage, composed of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc, offers a complex and layered experience that has garnered widespread acclaim from critics.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it a perfect score of 100, describing it as "pure perfection" with an "extraordinary nose of sweet blackberries, cassis and spring flowers" and a "long, textured, multi-layered finish." Jeb Dunnuck also rated it 100, praising its "incredible perfume of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, leafy herbs, and graphite," and noted its ability to glide across the palate effortlessly.
Wine Spectator, scoring it 97, highlighted the enticing aroma of "Indian spices and blackberry" and lauded its "very polished tannins that caress." Similarly, Wine Enthusiast described it as "dark and dense, but with such opulent fruit," providing a "velvet structure" that reflects La Mission's softer side compared to its neighbor Haut-Brion.
Neal Martin's Wine Journal gave it a score of 98, noting the "fabulous bouquet with powerful, well-defined blackberry, cedar, tobacco, fig and menthol scents." In a similar vein, Vinous remarked on its intense bouquet and structure, with the Merlot content making it "much more pliant than others from this vintage."
Overall, the 2005 La Mission Haut Brion is a wine of exceptional quality, showcasing the best of its terroir with a rich, full-bodied palate and a structure built for long-term aging. It is a testament to the estate's reputation for producing opulent and complex wines that stand the test of time.