2003 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc
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Tasting notes
Deep orangey gold. (Very difficult cork to extract.) Heady lanolin and old beeswax on the nose, with sufficient acidity certainly from this heatwave vintage. Perhaps not the most intense Laville on the palate and not that persistent, but admirably refreshing. It may well open out in the decanter... (JR)
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Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Jean-Philippe Delmas reminded us that during this heatwave summer there were 14 days over 34 deg C. The grapes were picked on 14 Aug. The Semillon portion is more than 80%. Quite a cheesey nose at first though this blew off with time in the glass. Strong lanolin notes. Warm and rich and full. Still very teenage but it really opened up, especially on the finish. There was a distinct note of popcorn on the palate. Extremely rich wine that was served with a rather tart raw fish dish and would probably have been better with a creamier dish, or even with cheese. (This is the wine recently renamed Ch La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc.) (JR)
The unctuous, opulent 2003 Laville Haut-Brion is stunningly rich, full-bodied, and intense. Reminiscent of the 1989 and 1994, it offers a powerful, concentrated, honeyed grapefruit character intermixed with citrus oil, flowers, and waxy marmalade, admirable acidity, and a tremendous mouthfeel as well as length. It should drink well for 25+ years.
About the producer
Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion – sister estate of Ch. Haut-Brion and part of the Clarence Dillon stable – is one of the greatest estates in all of Bordeaux. Based in Pessac-Léognan but not officially classified, it produces outstanding red and white wines.