2023 Haut Brion Blanc
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Tasting Notes
Greengage, honey blossom and nettle dominate the airy and delightfully subtle nose, a little fresh pear also. The palate is more direct than La Mission, full of pure fresh stone fruit flavour, long and mineral on the finish. 58% Sauvignon Blanc, 42% Semillon
Critic Scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Château Haut-Brion Blanc includes slightly more Semillon than the La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc and is 58.1% Sauvignon and 41.9% Semillon. It's a slightly more inward, reserved white with white currants, green herbs, bright citrus, and sappy flower-like aromatics that take some coaxing. These carry to a medium-bodied white that has a bright, refreshing, racy style and plenty of mid-palate density and depth. It's an ever-so-slightly richer, more concentrated wine than the La Mission Haut-Brion.
Green apples, waxy lemon peels, ginger, and orange rind notes are all over the place. The wine is crisp, mineral-driven, fruity, and bright from start to finish. The wine is made from a blend of 58.1% Sauvignon Blanc, with 41.9% Semillon. 13.8% ABV. The picking took place August 21, finishing September 4. The length of harvest is extraordinary, considering there are only 2.5 hectares of vines.
A blend of 58.1% Sauvignon Blanc and 41.9% Semillon, the white 2023 Haut-Brion has a pH of 3.2. It is incredibly closed to start, needing a lot of shaking to bring out fragrant notes of fresh pears, lime leaves, coriander seed, and crushed stones, soon opening out to fragrant scents of lemongrass and honeysuckle, with a touch of baking bread. The medium-bodied palate vibrates with energetic citrus flavors, with a satiny/chalky texture and a racy backbone, finishing with amazing length and depth.
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Brion is the only classified growth in Pessac-Léognan. One of the five First Growths, it is renowned for producing both exceptional reds and whites. Along with its sister estate, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, it is part of the Clarence Dillon stable.