2008 Ch La Mission Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan

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.

95 points RPJ robertparker.com

Powerful, youthful, tannic, fresh and even a but crisp, the wine is full bodied, offering tobacco, cigar wrapper, tobacco and dark. deep, red fruits. There is a firm, almost strict nature to the tannins. There is the structure to age, which is a good thing, as this wine is going to need time before it all comes together. The wine is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.

94 points JL thewinecellarinsider.com

A muscular wine, with well-defined tannins. The acidity is high, hiding the power and richness of the fruit behind. Then dark tannins come through, with other ripe fruits, finishing with a mineral character.

95-97 points wineenthusiast.com