Region | |
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Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
Colour | White |
Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by La Mission Haut Brion
This blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc is from the vineyard that used to be known as Laville Haut-Brion. Bursting with aromas of candle wax, honeyed tangerines, exotic melon and lychee nut-like notes, it exhibits terrific minerality along with a full-bodied mouthfeel, exceptional concentration, great acids and a long finish that lasts 40+ seconds. This killer dry white wine should drink well for 30-40+ years.
Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting. The 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has a very intense Sauvignon Blanc nose offering gooseberry, kiwi fruit and smoky scents, although it does not seem to possess the complexity of the Malartic-Lagravière Blanc. The palate is balanced with a smooth entry, quite phenolic compared to its peers with a waxy, almost honeyed finish that feels creamy and yet needs to muster more complexity. I suspect this is just entering a dumb phase (just like Laville Haut-Brion had a habit of doing!). Like the Haut-Brion, my mark reflects the fact that this wine has closed down since bottling, but it will warrant a far higher score in line with its barrel showing after 10-15 years. Tasted January 2016.
Lots of mineral, oyster shell, apple pie and white pepper on the nose and palate. Full and rich yet very bright and fresh. Dried pear and apple undertones. Intense.
84% Sémillon, 16% Sauvignon Blanc. Quite sweet on the nose with crème pâtissière. Quite like a grand cru white burgundy in build. Very rich. Sumptuous and only just held on to the tightrope of balance but a superstar. Glorious. Explosive; I would guess lots of alcohol. But massive impact and sufficient corsetry to keep it well balanced.
The white La Mission isn't short of ripeness or alcohol, but it's more restrained and Semillondominated
than the companion white from Haut-Brion. Nuanced and refined, with complex
toast, cream and lemon curd notes. The finish is just a little on the warm side.
Drink: 2014-25
The La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is a blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc, which Jean-Philippe Delmas described as a classic blend. The nose is tightly wound with delicate Kaffir lime, orange zest and citrus lemon - great vigour here. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, lively citric fruit with a superb linearity. You can feel the persistency on the languorous finish that displays wonderful focus and minerality. Superb - but what else did you expect? Tasted April 2013.