La Mission Haut Brion, Blanc 2016

vinous93

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is ample, creamy and quite expressive, even in the early going. Quite unusually, the 2016 is the first Blanc here to be made with a majority of Sauvignon Blanc, as the winemaking team led by Deputy managing director Jean-Philippe Delmas did not feel the Sémillon was strong enough. In this tasting, the Blanc gives the impression it will drink well relatively early, which is my preference as well.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

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.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has improved on the nose since en primeur, offering gently unfolding white peach, red apple, chalk and light yellow flower aromas. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and linear and a little wavier than its Haut Brion Blanc counterpart, leaving a touch of lemongrass on the aftertaste. A refined, cerebral proposition that will age like those great Lavilles of the past.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

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.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Conditions were a little challenging for the Sémillon this year, and the blend of the La Mission Haut-Brion 2016 Blanc is, unusually, dominated by Sauvignon Blanc (62.7%) with 37.3% Sémillon. It reveals subtle notions of mandarin peel, fresh grapefruit and pineapple with touches of crushed rocks, white peaches and coriander seed. Medium-bodied, the palate has a racy line of freshness cutting through the vibrant citrus and tropical layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note. Considering the challenges, this is a very impressive result!