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  • Country ranking ?

    572
  • Producer ranking ?

    31
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    from 2018
  • Food Pairing

    Grilled seafood, fresh oysters, Turbot a la Meuniere & Lobster Thermidor

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, a blend of one-third Sauvignon Blanc and two-thirds Semillon, picked between 28 August and 8 September, has an attractive bouquet with lime, Granny Smith apples, orange zest and cold stone, well defined if not the most complex that I have encountered over the years. The palate is lively on the entry with fine tension and impressive intensity, spicy on the tip of the tongue, almost fiery, with the Semillon dominating the finish and lending the complexity: hints of dried pineapple, almond and Cornice pear. This is an excellent La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, but it needs a few years for the aromatics to really open, just as Laville Haut-Brion did in the old days.

Score: 92/94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (224), April 2016

Very balanced and fresh with stone and dried peach aromas and flavors. Very aromatic. Full body, fine phenolics and licorice. Show power and richness.

Score: 97/98

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2016

The 2015 La Mission Haut-Bion Blanc is deep, powerful and intense, yet with no excess heaviness. A vertical, structured white, the 2015 possesses remarkable depth along with a spherical expression of fruit that is a joy to behold. The aromatics haven't begun to develop yet, but there is time for that. Plenty of time. This is an especially rich, concentrated white that is going to require a bit of bottle age to offer its finest drinking.

Score: 93/96

Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2016

Depth on the nose a rich mix of tropical fruit the start of the palate is fleshy with white peach. There is balance the richness on the mid palate refreshed by grapefruit and lime and although the back palate has sweet fruit the finish bright with a racy length.

Score: 94/96

Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2016

If you’re looking for a top white to cellar in 2015, this would be a great candidate, combining freshness and focus with understated power. It’s not quite as good as the 2014, but it’s still a remarkable white with toasty, waxy complexity underpinned by acidity and vanilla spice. Drink: 2017-30

Score: 95

Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 201

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The Story

Formerly named Château Laville Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is produced in such extremely limited quantities that it is confined to the initiated. Its make-up almost 85% of Semillon, 14% Sauvignon Blanc and a pinch of Muscadelle ? also makes it unique. When young it possesses the characteristics of a premier Gewurztraminer. With time it trades its Alsatian color for the amber of the great Sauterne wines. Then this dry white wine expresses all the particular traits of a great syrupy Graves wine that are specific to the Semillon grown in famous terroirs.

More details

Surface area planted: 2.55 hectares (6.30 acres) 
Planted grape varieties: 85% Sémillon, 14% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Muscadelle 
Fermentation in oak casks 
Length of initial maturing period in oak casks: 9-12 months in 40-50% new wood 
Average production: 500 to 700 cases

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Vintage 2015

Full report of Bordeaux 2015 by Andrew Caillard MW “Next in line in a great series of vintages; 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2015.

 

2015 is a wonderful Bordeaux vintage without the hype or hysteria associated with 2009 and 2010. The wines are generally expressive and generous with wonderful concentration and structure. Given another year in barrel, the wines should gain more complexity and fruit volume. Châteaux, in all sub-regions, are enthusiastic about the beautiful fragrance, clear fruit aromas and lively energy of the wines, and believe the vintage to be the best since 2010. More than once, the expression “a vintage of the decade” was mentioned. I have tasted through most of the top wines, some on more than one occasion, and I am convinced that this is a vintage worth supporting. It’s a very successful vintage.

 

The weather conditions were generally ideal with perfect flowering and set for spring. A hot, dry, sunny period in June and July kept the vines in balance; Near-drought conditions resulted in excellent cluster development. Veraison (in which the grape berries change from green and hard to colored and fleshy) began towards the end of July. Light rains refreshed the canopies and hydrated the grape clusters. Cooler weather arrived in August with above average precipitation. Northern Médoc was exposed to heavy rains, but no berry splitting or significant disease pressure was reported. The cooler conditions leading up to harvest in September allowed the grapes to retain their aromatic potential and ripen relatively evenly.

 

Red wines from the Right Bank and the Left Bank are generally impressive in their concentration, vigor and freshness. Although all wines are tasted extremely young, it is easy to see the quality and dimension of the vintage. Merlot performed particularly well, with many Châteaux picking intermittently over a three-week window to achieve optimal freshness, flesh and maturity. Cabernet Franc, its companion in many wines, gives an attractive “tannin seam” and structural vigor. Observers are already calling it a right bank year (St Emilion & Pomerol). Ch Vieux Château Certan, described as “La Force Tranquille”, and Château Petrus were my two top Right Bank wines, followed by Château Ausone. All have a buoyancy and precision that bodes well for the future.

 

The southern left bank (Margaux and Pessac-Léognan) also found some beautiful concentrated wines. The alcoholic strength and tannic maturity seem to correlate with this impression. Cabernet Sauvignon, typically “needing to take its time”, produced wines of beautiful aromaticity, concentration and vitality. The success of this variety depended on the sophistication of harvesting and selection during blending. Château Margaux and Château Palmer are amazing wines. Château Haut Brion and Château La Mission Haut Brion made dense chocolate styles. Château Haut Bailly is particularly refined and nicely balanced.

 

At Château Batailley, the introduction of a second wine and greater attention to differentiation led to one of the best vintages in its history. Many small refinements and decisions in the vineyard and cellar have allowed several large châteaux in St Julien, Pauillac and St Estephe to make beautiful wines too. The difficult selection process is particularly evident on the Left Bank. Château Margaux and Château Cos d’Estournel have chosen to rigorously defend their first wines through very careful picking and selection. Only 35% and 39% (respectively) of the harvest were dedicated to their Grand Vin. Ch Cheval Blanc de St Emilion represented 95.1% of the harvest, leaving no reason to make Petit Cheval in 2015.

The attention to detail in the vineyard, especially after the August rains, and the huge investments in optical sorting machines (costing around 200,000 euros each) at harvest ensured that the grapes were in good condition before vinification. It’s quite incredible how the fruit arrives in the cellar these days. Attention to detail has become the norm within the Grand Cru Classé community. The First Growth Estates with their huge financial investments in vineyard practices and cellars, have all produced impressive wines this year. Perhaps the most evocative of all is Château Margaux. The death of the estate's longtime winemaker, Paul Pontallier, on Easter Sunday from cancer shook the Bordeaux wine community. He was a man for all seasons. He brought out the best in his people and their wines, whatever the vintage offered. 2015 Château Margaux, in all likelihood, will be the greatest vintage in its modern history.

 

Despite the somber mood of this year’s En Primeurs 2015 tastings, the energy of spring brought a feeling of renewal. Buds in the vines, white and pink flowers in full bloom, pure chirping of baby birds and vibrant new wines of the vintage promised the animation and maturation of life. The colors, densities, flavors and tannic quality of the young red wines suggest a great vintage in the making. It is one of the most curious practices in the wine trade to comment on unfinished wine, but somehow the predictions become more or less right. Over the next year, the wines will develop more complexity, richness and volume in fruit barrels. The tannins, oak and fruit will integrate more.

 

The sweet aperitif/dessert wines of Sauternes and Barsac also performed very well. The combination of uniform maturation and optimal outbreaks of botrytis cinerea produced magnificent wines. Some are calling it the best vintage since 2001, arguably the greatest vintage in recent memory. While Ch d’Yquem looked stunning, the elegant Ch Climens style, still in many parts, will look wonderful. Typically, this wine is tasted from multiple barrels, and my notes are a composite of eight different elements. The scent, dynamism, freshness and line are incredible. Dry whites, primarily Sauvignon Blanc or Gris dominant, are refreshing styles with an appealing freshness and vibrancy. Ch Haut Brion Blanc is an amazing wine, but its release price will reflect its rarity.

 

Châteaux will likely bring out the vintage in two installments to capture the appetite of the global wine trade. Early bids will likely be a bit higher than last year's opening prices. This will go against the advice of traders who have been operating with very low margins for many years. The weakening of the pound sterling and the Australian dollar against the euro may be a stumbling block for some buyers, but there will be value and opportunity in this upcoming open season. For Australian buyers, this is absolutely the best way to buy Bordeaux. Provenance is guaranteed, allocations confirmed and the price will always be lower than future imports, due to the structure of the Bordeaux market.

Better market conditions in China and the United States, combined with a significant vintage both in quantity and quality, will allow Bordeaux to regain momentum after a four-year period of stagnation and uncertainty. The game of cat and mouse between the Châteaux, the merchants and the wine trade begins now. Whatever the outcome, Bordeaux will continue to be the benchmark for great wines for many decades to come. There is something completely unique, invigorating and evocative about mature Bordeaux wines. The best of 2015 will be transformative and delicious to drink. All you need is patience, moderately deep pockets, and the willingness to buy!

 

Margaux/ Beautiful wines with magnificent fruit density and fine, sinuous tannins. It’s been a few years since Margaux shone so brightly. Ch Margaux, Ch Palmer, Ch Rauzan Segla, Ch Rauzan Gassies, Alter Ego de Cg Palmer. Ch Pavillon Rouge, Ch Malescot de St Exupery, Ch D’Angludet, Ch Kirwan, Ch Cantenac Brown and Ch Brand Cantenac are highlights.

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

Bright lemon yellow, superb white flowers and fresh dry herbs nose, marvellous lift and freshness despite evident ripeness, really well-defined depth and certainly the finest expression of Semillon in dry Bordeaux.

  • 93p

Made up of 33% Sauvignon Blanc and 67% Semillon, the La Mission Haut-Brion 2015 Blanc has a slightly closed nose, offering peeks at lemon curd, white peach and yuzu notes with accents of musk perfume, garrigue, fresh hay and wet pebbles. Medium to full-bodied with a lovely textural element of phenolic grip and a racy acid line cutting through the intense stone fruit and savory layers, it finishes with great persistence.

  • 94p
2015 Haut Brion white showed as splendidly as LMHB and the only thing which put HB in the front of LMHB, was more intensity, more depth and longer finish. 96p.
  • 96p
Bright yellow with green hue. Slightly closed nose with pure fruit, aroma reminiscent of grapefruit-zest, ripe apricots and Mirabelle, tropical fruit in the background. Opulent character, excellent minerality with almost salty taste, yellow stone fruit flavour, hints of vanilla, convincing freshness and length.
  • 95p
Pale colour. Line, lemony herb garden aromas. More precision than above. Well concentrated fruit sweet wine with lemon glacé grapefruit flavours with some yeasty brioche notes, fine looseknit lacy textures ad long fresh acidity. Very good. Quite crunchy at the finish. 95 points
  • 95p
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Information

Origin

Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Outstanding

Drinking temperature

9-11C

Other wines from this producer

La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion

La Mission Haut Brion

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