Château Haut Brion Blanc, Pessac Léognan, 2023
Like the Mission, production here was restricted to the habitual 400 cases, despite the high yields. More wine being delcassifed in to the Clarté than usual. Even more of a mouthful than usual, this has muscle and power but also demonstrates even more dimension than would ordinarily expect at this stage. It very much feels like the white version of the red – similarly statuesque and powerful – notes of fleshy orchard and stone fruit, a strong rock salt element, nettle and herbs, strong, sweet spice overtones with a hint of menthol on the finish. A blend of 58.1% Sauvignon Blanc and 41.9% Semillon.
critic reviews
The 2023 Haut-Brion Blanc has a clean and precise bouquet, lilting scents of apple blossom, dewy meadow and Mirabelle (as I remarked out of barrel). The palate is very well balanced with impressive weight, finely judged acidity, quite tensile and sapid with a dab of stem ginger on the finish. As I said before, texturally, this is a very satisfying Haut-Brion Blanc.
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.
On the reductive style, with gunsmoke and flint, reserved but evident flesh to the fruit, captures the contrasting freshness and intensity of a great white wine, and delivers a feeling of being raised up through the palate. Exceptional quality, 3.2ph. 40% new oak.
A bit shy, the 2023 Haut-Brion Blanc exhibits aromas of lemon, lemon oil, crisp stone fruits and spring flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, dense and fleshy palate that's round and layered, with chalky underlying structure and a long, mineral finish. It's a blend of 58% Sauvignon Blanc and 42% Semillon.