La Mission Haut Brion 2008

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

This glorious offering possesses sweet tobacco leaf, black currant, mocha, white chocolate, scorched earth and burning ember-like characteristics. Full-bodied, stunningly rich and exceptionally well-endowed, this blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc demands 2-3 years of additional bottle age. It should age gracefully for 35-40 years.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. Two bottles tasted and I was initially parsimonious with my score since it seems to have closed down. Allowing the wine to continually aerate, it finally agrees to reveal what is impressive ripeness “under the bonnet”, with blackberry, scorched earth, graphite and even a touch of honey. But it is just glimpses of what will evolve with time. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, a little edgy and tense, vivacious with a very crisp, focused finish with beautifully integrated oak. Once the aromatics awaken, this will be superb. Tasted January 2012.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Like a lot of wines in this underrated vintage, the 2008 La Mission was one of the great bargains of recent vintages. Its healthy blue/purple color is followed by aromas of blueberries, black raspberries, licorice, truffles, underbrush and forest floor. The scorched earthy/smoky character of this estate’s terroir has not yet emerged. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated with good acidity, freshness and delineation, this is a big wine for the vintage, but also very classic in its balance of tannin, acidity and extract. It will benefit from another 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades. The final blend was 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Another property that is harvested very late (September 23-October 17), the 2008 La Mission-Haut-Brion is a powerful, backward effort that is not yet fully expressing itself. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, it reveals a deep blue/purple hue in addition to sumptuous aromas of melted asphalt, graphite, blueberries, and black currant liqueur. Dense, with high but velvety tannins, top-flight purity, and a full-bodied, backward, formidably endowed style, this beauty seems to be set for a long life. It is difficult to compare 2008 with any other recent vintage, but the closest would probably be 1998. A La Mission made for four decades or more of cellaring, it is a top-notch effort that should improve during the elevage in barrel.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion. The La Mission has a complex nose: smoky at firs with touches of sous-bois, thyme, a little sage and earth. Quite austere and masculine compared to other vintages with just a hint of mulberry developing in the glass that becomes more lifted after 10 minutes, more graphite aromas coming through and crushed pebble. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, stoic tannins on the entry. A stately La Mission, foursquare and relatively conservative, just a little hardness at the moment but that will mellow with time. Dry and slightly leafy on the finish with sous-bois, a touch of thyme and pencil shavings: classic La Mission. Drink 2016-2040. Tasted October 2010.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

En primeur barrel sample. A blend of 43% Merlot, 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. This is more conservative on the nose than the Chateau Haut-Brion, but with time it begins to unfurl (at least ten minutes in the glass.) Blackberry, cedar, a touch of sandalwood – very tight, but it begins to blossom, developing hints of boysenberry and wild nettle. The palate is like a tight fist, austere and introverted, a moody bugger but there are some very fine tannins and structure towards the finish. A dark horse. Tasted April 2009.

vinous92

Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata

(a blend of 51% cabernet sauvignon, 43% merlot and 6% cabernet) Deep ruby. Pretty floral nose combines spicy blackcurrant and smoky plum aromas with a hint of black pepper. Sweet and fairly deep, with brooding, slightly aggressive flavors of dark cherry and blueberry. Finishes with dusty, broad tannins and a note of austerity that I did not find in the young '06 or '07 La Mission. As La Mission's terroir is slightly cooler than Haut-Brion's, a warm August is generally a requirement for success. That was lacking in 2008; on the other hand, the wonderful '06 benefited greatly from heat in August. Similarly, I did not find La Mission's second wine, La Chapelle, up to the level of the past four or five years.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2008 La Mission Haut-Brion has an open, feisty, lively bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar, black olive and a light seaweed (Japanese nori) aroma. This is wonderful, an intoxicating bouquet. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very focused with good weight and structure. This is a very convincing showing, at the moment more pleasurable than the 2008 Haut-Brion, just so fresh and complex, offering a discrete tertiary, smoke-tinged finish that goes on and on. One of the best 2008s out there. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)

vinous92

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Deep ruby-purple. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, underbrush, smoke and minerals. Juicy, spicy and on the lean side, but with excellent firmness and lift to the dark berry, tar and tobacco flavors. This gained considerable mid-palate sweetness and pliancy with air. But almost austere today on the minerally finish, which features ripe tannins and impressively long, juicy fruit.