2010 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux 750 ml

Robert Parker famously wrote, "I have more bottles of La Mission-Haut-Brion in my private collection than any other wine in the world."

But one vintage from the iconic estate stands out as where we'd put our own money: 2010.

The 2010 La Mission is a monumental wine—one Parker called a "colossal giant" of the vintage and “an amazing wine.” He declared it a strong candidate to become a modern-day version of their legendary 1955, and with good reason: it has the definite potential to be a 50- to 75-year wine, though it’s already opened up to reveal incredible complexity and depth.

Master of Wine Jancis Robinson describes La Mission as "the quintessential insider's wine," as it's often overlooked in favor of its slightly more famous (and flashy) First Growth peers. We know better, and after one inhale of its powerful bouquet, we were reminded of exactly why La Mission Haut-Brion stands with the best of the Left Bank.

For over 600 years, La Mission Haut-Brion (or "La Mish" to its ardent devotees) has charmed royalty, beguiled founding fathers, and seduced the world's most prominent wine critics with its trademark elegance, complexity, and longevity. It's a sister property directly adjacent to Haut-Brion, the storied 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé. It benefits from the same historic third-generation Dillon family stewardship, as well as three generations of direct management under the Delmas family, not to mention the same First Growth terroir and unique Pessac-Léognan micro-climate.

Due to its wind-protected suburban location, the vineyard is usually a couple of degrees warmer on average than its neighbors. That, and its well-draining sandy soils, which are uniquely full of gravel and quartz, give the wine "a precocious and early-maturing style" according to Parker.

After some uneven flowering early in the season, the weather cleared to deliver a beautifully dry summer. Sunny days in August, September, and October, accompanied by cool nights, gave the grapes plenty of time to ripen slowly and leisurely while retaining their complexity and tannic density. Nature dealt Pessac-Léognan an even more advantageous hand in 2010 than in 2009: perfect ripening for all red varietals, with an extra edge of concentration from lower yields. La Mission Haut-Brion thrived in these conditions and produced one of the wines of the vintage—and one of the greatest wines in their history. Don't miss it.