Château Mission High Brion Blanc - Pessac-Léognan 2016

Bettane & Desseauve

96-97 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Grand arôme de verveine, fruits blancs et acacia, magnifique définition immédiate en bouche, vraiment à part dans son appellation et plus marquant dans ce style pour les amateurs de grands vins blancs bourguignons.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The La Mission Haut Brion 2016 Blanc is a blend of 62.7% Sauvignon Blanc and 37.3% Sémillon picked from 5-13 September. It has a crisp bouquet with kiwi, grapefruit and cold stone aromas, although it does not convey the vigor or complexity of the 2015, due to the lower proportion of Sémillon. The palate is well balanced with a pleasant texture; there is orange zest, lime, a touch of stem ginger and a very satisfying, quite persistent finish. It is a well-made La Mission Haut Brion Blanc that should give 10-20 years of drinking pleasure.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

With effort, you find lemon peel, grapefruit and Granny Smith apples in the perfume. Full bodied, with energy, the wine displays ample, just picked, yellow citrus from start to finish. The wine was made from a blend of 62.7% Sauvignon Blanc and 37.3% Semillon. This is a first for the wine as both La Mission Haut Brion Blanc and Laville Haut Brion Blanc, as this is the first time the wine has used a preponderance of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend. The wine reached 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.16. The harvest took place from September 5 to September 13. The Grand Vin represents only 31% of the harvest.

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is unusual in that it is the first vintage for this wine in which Sauvignon Blanc is the dominant variety. Ample and creamy on the palate, the 2016 offers plenty of depth and overall texture, but here those qualities are coming from the warm, dry weather that defined the final part of the growing season rather than the Sémillon that usually forms the majority of the blend. There is a level of immediacy in the citrus peel, white flower and sage flavors that is quite appealing. Above all else, the Blanc is more a wine of variety (specifically Sauvignon Blanc) than of place, as is the case with the Haut-Brion Blanc. Deputy managing director Jean-Philippe Delmas attributes that to the average age of the Sauvignon vines here, which is on average on the lower side.

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2017

They have the weight of expectation here, of course, with this wine known to be one of the greatest whites in Bordeaux, and you can feel the battle against the summer drought. It's still stunning though, riven with rich citrus, white pepper and soft grilled almonds, and it grips the sides of your mouth, keeping up the pace. This is the first time since it changed its name from Laville Haut-Brion where there is more Sauvignon Blanc than Sémillon, chosen because it helped to capture the freshness. 30% of the production went into this, 40% to Clarté, and a full 30% into Clarendelle. The blend is 62.7% Sauvignon Blanc and 37.3% Sémillon aged in 37% new oak. Drinking Window 2019 - 2035

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/25/2017

The first vintage with a majority of Sauvignon Blanc.Thick and sweet and racy. Some wild notes. Very different from the old Laville Haut-Brion! Great tension. A halfway house with some ginger flavour. Drink 2020-2025

matthewjukes.com

18,5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(62.7 Sauvignon Blanc, 37.3 Semillon) | 38% new oak | 14.1% alc. | Harvested between 5-13 September Entirely picked before the rain, the trio of whites at this eminent property are all remarkable. Leading with Sauvignon Blanc, for the first time ever, this is a heavenly wine with immense aromatic gymnastics and also this means that Sauvi- gnon fans all over the globe have to track this wine down. Semillon looked a little heavy on the yields and less aromatic they would have liked, too, so Sauvignon, because it looked so fresh and perfumed took the lead and it has done an outstanding and also rather shocking job. I like this wine immensely and it is unlike anything I have ever tasted before. 18.5+

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. Ripe yet crisp, this is a beautifully aromatic and well-balanced wine. Ample acidity complements an herbal character that comes from the Sauvignon Blanc, giving the wine tension and minerality. It is going to age well.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

This is dense like a Montrachet yet so minerally with crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied, layered and powerful. A great glass of white wine. First time they used a majority of sauvignon blanc.