Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2008

2008 Pessac-Leognan Cru Classe

The 2008 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion displays a splendid intense red colour. The complex nose exudes very ripe red fruits combined with typical empyreumatic notes. The palate of this superior wine offers tension on the attack yet shows great finesse. Well-defined tannins are already blended, while flavours remain fruity. The 2008 vintage from Pessac-Leognan appellation requires many years of keep.

Wine Advocate-Parker :
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.