France

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc Pessac-Leognan

Bordeaux

Pessac-Léognan

The 2020 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, a blend of 54.7% Sauvignon Blanc and 45.3% Semillon, slowly emerges from the glass with notes of Golden Delicious apple, juicy pears, and coriander seed, followed by underlying hints of paraffin wax, wet pebbles, and white pepper. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled, with a lively backbone and energetic apple and pear layers, finishing long with a spicy lift.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Dominant Sémillon character at this stage in its life, despite having higher Sauvignon Blanc in the blend than usual, giving structure, plenty of waxed citrus peel, lime zest and white peach. Twist of noble bitterness on the finish, excellent grip and salinity. Harvested 27 August to 5 September. 3.27ph.

Inside Bordeaux

Needs a lot of swirling to begin to reveal notes of yuzu, freshly squeezed lemons, and green mango, plus hints of lime blossoms and sea spray. The medium-bodied palate delivers a satiny texture with tightly knit citrus and floral layers, finishing long and minerally. Gorgeous.

Zesty, focused, bright and vivid, white flowers, gorgeous texture and aromatics, pulls you forward through the palate, structured and with great ageing ability. Delicious vintage of this wine. 40% new oak. Harvest from August 21 through to September 5 for the 2.5ha of white wines. A test with shade cloths to mitigate heat spikes is underway at the estate, will be fascinating to watch the progress.

The 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, 72% Semillon and 28% Sauvignon Blanc aging in 41.9% new oak, prances out with showy notes of orange blossoms, ripe pears, and green apples, leading to hints of elderflower and wet slate. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with bright, expressive citrus and stone fruit layers, featuring loads of minerally sparks on the long finish.

Austere, thrilling, still a little closed, more upright than I might have expected when you compare to how finessed and open the Mission red is at this point. Instead this is coiled, serious, with a curl of gunsmoke, citrus and white tea. Expands through the palate to show clear volume, and stretches out slowly but surely, totally delicious salinity with its oyster shell finish. Diam closure since 2017.

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, 69.9% Semillon and 30.1% Sauvignon Blanc, is locked tight on the nose to begin, eventually offering glimpses at lime leaves and sea spray with wafts of white pepper and dill seed. Medium-bodied, the palate has plenty of tension and mineral layers, finishing savory.

The white 2018 La Mission Haut-Brion explodes with notes of guava, pineapple, and ripe peaches, plus touches of honeyed toast and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is taut and layered, with lovely zesty sparks and a long, spicy finish. 

Still young at 7 years old, medium weight with ripples of white peach, chamomile, grilled cardamon and saffron, cutting through the brighter, more vivid notes of crisp citrus, green apple and slate. Finessed and enticing, with clear long ageing ahead, one of the whites of the vintage. 68% new oak for ageing. Harvest September 4 to 29. This was opened two hours before the tasting, as were the reds, but kept in the fridge as it was a warm day.

How many white wines can hold for 2.5 hours over a long lunch and get better and better even as they warm up, and even after tasting next to some stellar reds? At 23 years old , this is just luscious and indulgent, filled with orange peel, mandarin, saffron, slate, citrus, goes long, hard not to fall in love. A rare wine and worth every effort to get hold of it.

Category	White wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion
Vintages	2020
Country	France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan
Bottle	75 cl

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Sugar	g/l

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