Green apple, lime, aniseed and stone. Some green mango, too. Full-to medium-bodied with a compact palate of beautiful fruit and refined phenolics that last for minutes. Creamy finish. Tight at the end. Needs four or five years to open. Best after 2026.

Much more Semillon-based compared to its stablemate, the Haut-Brion Blanc, the 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. It's a much more subdued, classic Semillon, offering ripe peach, honeyed lime, sappy herbs, and chalky mineral nuances that show even more on the palate. Rich, layered, and medium to full-bodied, it's another blockbuster of a white from this estate that has everything you could want from a Bordeaux Blanc. It opens up beautifully with time in the glass, is flawlessly balanced, and just a thrill a second. It should evolve for 20-30 years as well.

It was a close call picking a favorite here between LMHBB and HBB, but, perhaps the La Mission has just a bit more going here. The perfume is packed with honeysuckle, lemon rind, pomelo, white peaches and herbs, with a touch of spice cover all the bases. Full-bodied, rich, fleshy and deep, the wine fills your palate with wall of ripe, yellow and orange citrus, crushed rocks, mango and a dab of honey, with ample acidity to keep everything up-beat and fresh. Drink from 2025-2040.

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has a very Sémillon-driven bouquet that virtually crowds out the Sauvignon Blanc, offering dried honey, peach skin, Conference pear and a touch of spice. The palate is very well balanced with more complexity compared to the Haut-Brion Blanc. This has a fine bead of acidity, and plenty of dry extract on the finish that distinguishes it from its counterpart. Superb, but it will need time.

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is every bit as impressive as it was last year. I am blown away by the tension and crystalline precision. Citrus peel, crushed rocks, mint, sage and slate abound. Deceptive in its airy, mid-weight feel, the Blanc possesses sizzling energy and tons of depth that continues to reveal itself over time. Impressive.

Hard to fault this gorgeous wine, with white peach, citrus, fleshy pear and apricot pit, along with the fennel and crushed sage that add a welcome touch of bitterness. A crisp pulse of minerality keeps things moving through the palate, and this is seductive and vibrant, playing with you and keeping you engaged. JA

The La Mission Haut-Brion 2019 Blanc is composed of 69.9% Semillon and 30.1% Sauvignon Blanc, harvested from the 30th of August until the 10th of September. The estimated label alcohol degree is 14%. Notions of freshly squeezed limes, grapefruit juice and white peaches come wafting out of the glass followed by suggestions of yuzu zest, coriander seed, underripe pineapple, wet pebbles and green mango with a touch of fennel. The medium to full-bodied palate offers layer upon layer of citrus fruits and mineral accents wrapped in a beautiful satiny texture and featuring seamless freshness, finishing long and chalky. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, June 2020