The 2008 La Mission Haut Brion is a Bordeaux blend from the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Produced by La Mission Haut Brion, this red wine is made from a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, and comes with an alcohol content of 14.0%. The wine is sealed with a cork closure.
David Derby from JJ Buckley describes the wine as having a "remarkably dark color" with an aroma profile of "dried rose petal, dust, tobacco, and granite." He notes the wine's "big entry of rich round tannin" and its "intensely concentrated and deep" character, awarding it a score of 95.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rates this wine highly with a score of 95. The review praises its "healthy blue/purple color" and complex aromas of "blueberries, black raspberries, licorice, truffles, underbrush, and forest floor." The review highlights its "medium to full-bodied and concentrated" nature, noting its "good acidity, freshness, and delineation." The review further states that this wine will benefit from "another 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades."
James Suckling from jamessuckling.com gives the wine a score of 93, citing "fascinating aromas of crushed berry, plums, sweet tobacco, and stones." Suckling describes the wine as "full-bodied with chewy and velvety tannins and a long, long finish," and recommends trying it after 2015.
Wine Enthusiast's review, also scoring it 95, calls the wine "dark and concentrated" and a "powerhouse of flavors and dense tannins." The review mentions that the wine has a "wonderful combination of velvet texture and dry structure" and is "certainly set for the long haul."
Neal Martin from Vinous rates the wine at 96, commending its "open, feisty, lively bouquet" with aromas of "blackberry, briary, cedar, black olive, and a light seaweed (Japanese nori)." Martin describes the palate as "beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity" and a "discrete tertiary, smoke-tinged finish that goes on and on."
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com scores it 94, noting its "powerful, youthful, tannic, fresh" nature. Leve describes the wine as "full-bodied, offering tobacco, cigar wrapper, and dark, deep, red fruits," with a "firm, almost strict nature to the tannins."
Decanter's review, scoring it 94, calls the wine "elegant and fresh, with beautiful crushed raspberry fruits." The review highlights the wine's "smoky swirl through the palate" and "savoury black fruits on the finish," with a "gentlest hint of cigar box and cedar oak."
Finally, Jeb Dunnuck, awarding it 95, describes the wine as "a beautiful, high-class effort" with notes of "ripe black cherries, sweet currants, cigar tobacco, and exotic spices." Dunnuck emphasizes its "beautiful concentration, sweet tannins," and a "pleasure-bent, even sexy character."
Overall, the 2008 La Mission Haut Brion has received excellent reviews, with scores ranging from 93 to 96, highlighting its complexity, depth, and potential for aging.
