The 2009 La Mission Haut Brion Bordeaux Blend, produced by La Mission Haut Brion in the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a highly acclaimed red wine sealed with a cork closure. This vintage is noted for its high alcohol content of 14.5%, a notable increase from previous records.
The wine has garnered high praise from numerous professional reviewers, with several perfect scores. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it a perfect 100, describing it as "full-bodied, rich, bold and oh-so-decadent," with layers of black fruit preserves and exotic spices, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing epically long (Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 3/14/2019). Similarly, Jeb Dunnuck also gave it 100 points, highlighting its "incredible notes of ripe currants, mulled cherries, scorched earth, tobacco, and even a hint of truffly earth," and praising its "full-bodied richness" and "multi-dimensional mouthfeel" (Jeb Dunnuck, 3/7/2024).
The wine is a balanced blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com rated it 99 points, calling it "powerful, full-bodied, youthful, mouth-filling and packed to gills with layers of dark, red and black fruits." He noted its potential for aging, suggesting it would be even more majestic in another 10-15 years (Jeff Leve, 9/20/2019).
James Suckling gave it 97 points, describing it as "dark, cool and sleek" with "great structure and polished tannins," and highlighting its cassis and blackberry fruit, which suggests great aging potential (James Suckling, 3/6/2019). Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Decanter, and other notable publications also rated it in the high 90s, emphasizing its opulent fruit, dense structure, and exceptional balance.
Overall, the 2009 La Mission Haut Brion is a wine of tremendous complexity and structure, with a rich profile of dark fruits, licorice, espresso, and exotic spices. With its high alcohol content, velvety tannins, and long finish, it is a wine that promises to evolve beautifully over the coming decades, making it a standout choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike.