La Mission Haut Brion Blanc 2017

Simple lemon and lime fruit on the nose. Piercing, precise and fresh but a light creamy texture and all quite primary though you have the weight and richness of the Sémillon balanced by the crisp Sauvignon Blanc, opening to a waxy richness. Very long.Drink 2021-2027

Crisp with citrus on nose and the start of the palate broader richer in the middle ripe pears the rich fruit balanced and underpinned by cut apple the finish has fresh fruits and length. 2021-36

Very strict and very firm, this is a spectacular wine with incredible tension and drive. The Semillon is back to being the dominant variety (after last year’s anomalous reversal of the blend) and this has brought a strictness and severity to the wine. Thrilling and closed with nail-biting tension, this is a wine which will have a very long life ahead of it. The sour lemon and white flower notes are exquisite. It is interesting in this vintage that the characters of each of the wines is so heightened and individual. It is as if they have been forced to exercise their own identity like never before and they have risen to this challenge.

A blend of 23.8% Sauvignon Blanc and 76.2% Sémillon, the 2017 Blanc takes its time uncoiling from its tightly wound state, slowly revealing nuances of lemon tart, lime blossoms, green mango and jasmine with touches of cedar chest and sea spray. Medium-bodied, the palate has a beautifully expressed, quiet intensity, featuring loads of subtle mineral and citrus layers, finishing long and chalky. Beautiful. 2023 - 2045

The 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc was picked 22 to 31 August and matured in 38% new oak. It is very precise on the nose with lovely scents of orange blossom, Cornice pear, nettle and yellow flowers. The palate is well balanced with a slight waxiness on the entry. There is an underlying resinous quality to this La Mission Blanc with citrus lemon, Granny Smith apples, stem ginger and tangible mineralité towards the finish. This is a classy, sophisticated La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, one that is surpassed by the nascent Haut-Brion Blanc at the moment, but may have a trick up its sleeve with age thanks to the high proportion of Sémillon. 2022 - 2045

Blended of 76.2% Sémillon and 23.8% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Blanc gives up seriously intense notes of jasmine, grapefruit, lime zest and yuzu with touches of crushed rocks and lemongrass. The palate is medium-bodied with electric intensity and incredible tension, finishing long with many citrus fruit and mineral layers.