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News
"2020 is a unique vintage in every way. We had to be patient to wait for the ripeness we hoped for, but above all, 2020 will be remembered as a vintage with a very significant human factor. All these conditions make 2020 a remarkable vintage; concentrated wines, sustained by astonishing freshness enable La Mission Haut-Brion 2020 to be a huge success,
in red as well as in white" Jean-Philippe Delmas
Wine Description
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
Wine Information
The colour is beautiful, a pale yellow. The first nose is aromatic and powerful, with really lovely scents of white peach and apricot flesh revealed when swirling the wine. On the palate, the wine gives a rich first taste, very ample. Then development on the palate is generous, rich in taste and superb fruity flavours. The finish on a slightly lemony hint gives a marvellous, slight touch of salinity. Sauvignon, in majority in the blend (55%) of this Château La Mission Haut-Brion white, brings superb acidity, given the context of the summer of 2020, without overriding the Sémillon. The balance between body, acidity and aromatics is achieved particularly well.
Blend:
54,7% sauvignon blanc
45,3% sémillon
Estimated alcohol content: 13.8%/vol. Harvests from 19th to 28th August
Vintage 2020
In Bordeaux, the heat resulted in early flowering. Also, this led to an early harvest after a very hot summer. As a starting point, there is great maturity in the grapes, and one can expect a more opulent vintage than in the last few years.
The summer this year has been the warmest since 1959, yet the rain has fallen at the right times during the growing season. The harvest took place two weeks before the norm and will yield grapes with high potential alcohol and the lowest acidity since the 2003 vintage. As they say in Bordeaux: "It has been a good and extreme growing season which hopefully also produces great wines".