A creamy, round texture with ripe yet fresh aromas and flavors, showing apples, pears and hints of peaches. Medium- to full-bodied, polished and satisfying. 65.3% sauvignon blanc and 34.7% semillon.

Zesty, focused, bright and vivid, white flowers, gorgeous texture and aromatics, pulls you forward through the palate, structured and with great ageing ability. Delicious vintage of this wine. 40% new oak. Harvest from August 21 through to September 5 for the 2.5ha of white wines. A test with shade cloths to mitigate heat spikes is underway at the estate, will be fascinating to watch the progress.

The 2023 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is driven by the Sauvignon Blanc (65%) on the nose: Granny Smith apples kiwi fruit slate and light spicy aromas. There’s very fine delineation but I err toward the more nuanced Haut-Brion Blanc. The palate is lively on the entry with a touch of white pepper very good tension and ample energy. Conference pear mixes with melon and grassy notes toward the finish. This will provide immediate pleasure over the next 20 years though Haut-Brion Blanc has the intellectual heft.

The 2023 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is a very soft-textured white its lovely floral and mineral notes very much front and center. Gentle touches of pear jasmine white pepper and mint lift from the glass in a wine that impresses with its understatement and class. Aeration fills out the mid-palate as the Sémillon begins to reveal its breadth.