2009 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 750 ml

The highlight of our trip to Bordeaux last spring was lunch at La Mission Haut Brion with third-generation proprietor Jean-Philippe Delmas. He shared the 2009, one of the greatest expressions of the legendary estate that we’ve ever tasted, layered with black currant, blackberry, wild plum, tobacco, cocoa, pencil lead, and exotic spice that evolved slowly in the glass. Each sip was a new revelation, and we made it our mission to secure a small allotment of this library vintage for our members. 

Wine Advocate has awarded the 2009 La Mission Haut Brion 100-point scores on three separate occasions, most recently calling it “full-bodied, rich, bold and oh-so-decadent.” Robert Parker personally praised it as “perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime La Mission-Haut-Brion” with “a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, sweet, sumptuous, nearly over-the-top flavors and massive density.”

La Mission Haut Brion is the sister property of Château Haut Brion, and its own history is among the most fascinating in Bordeaux. With roots that stretch back to 1540, La Mission has been owned by the Dillon family for three generations. Under their control, it has become one of the true jewels in Bordeaux’s crown.

That day at lunch, the team there agreed to reserve a couple of cases just for our members. Provenance doesn’t get any better than this: The wines spent 10 years resting in the château before being sent directly to the United States for Wine Access. To paraphrase Parker, this is a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for every serious collector.