The 2018 La Mission Haut-Brion, a Bordeaux Blend from the Pessac Leognan region in France, is a red wine that has garnered high praise from professional reviewers for its complexity, structure, and potential for aging. Jeb Dunnuck, from jebdunnuck.com, awards it a perfect score of 100, describing it as "a blockbuster, backward, monster of a La Mission Haut-Brion" and suggesting it "needs to be forgotten for a good decade (or more)." The Wine Independent also gives it a perfect score, noting its "deep garnet-purple color" and "full-bodied, rich and opulent" character.
The wine is a blend dominated by Merlot (53.5%), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (42.9%), and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc (3.6%), as highlighted by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Lisa Perrotti-Brown from the publication praises its "layers of red and black fruits with earthy and mineral sparks" and describes the texture as "satiny." Another excellent review comes from Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com, who commends the wine's "luxurious, palate-staining" quality and "the length and purity in the finish."
James Suckling, writing for jamessuckling.com, highlights the wine's enticing aromas and notes its "round, chewy tannins that are polished and powerful, yet balanced and beautiful." Wine Enthusiast echoes the sentiment of aging potential, describing the wine as "impressive" and noting its "finesse and elegance."
Decanter, giving it a score of 97, appreciates its "savoury black fruit and charcoal character" and advises that it "needs time to settle." According to Wine Spectator, the wine is "tightly packed" with a "great tug of earth through the finish," recommending it be best enjoyed from 2025 through 2040.
Overall, the 2018 La Mission Haut-Brion is a wine that promises longevity and depth, with a consensus among reviewers that it will reward patience and evolve beautifully over time.
