Tasting notes
Jane Anson · Decanter · 97
Beautifully gripping and fragrant aromatics, sage, white apricot and peach, this is a wonderful wine, aerian, lilts upwards through the palate, has tenacity but with the gentlest of grips, white roses, apple blossom, preserved citrus, precise and pretty yet with a slow build of complexity. Clear ageing ability, one of the wines of the vintage. 40% new oak Harvest September 2 to 10. 3.25ph, 38hl/h yield.
Shuai Zekun · James Suckling · 97-98
The quality of the fruit is great, with beautiful depth and clarity. The acidity is quite bright, and there is enough substance and beautiful texture on the palate to keep it balanced. Long and subtle at this stage, but the potential is huge, with a style that's really minerally and classic. 59% semillon and 41% sauvignon blanc.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW · Wine Advocate · 96-98
Needs a lot of swirling to begin to reveal notes of yuzu, freshly squeezed lemons, and green mango, plus hints of lime blossoms and sea spray. The medium-bodied palate delivers a satiny texture with tightly knit citrus and floral layers, finishing long and minerally. Gorgeous.
Neal Martin · Vinous · 96-98
The 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, which has more Sémillon in the blend, was reticent on the nose and demanded more coaxing than usual, (reluctantly) offering scents of red apple, lime flower and crushed stone. The palate is more expressive with impressive weight and density. The 2024 is fresh and vibrant with palpable tension, revealing a tingle of lemongrass and stem ginger towards its sustained finish. When I returned to my glass after 20 minutes, the aromatics had burst open and shown their true colours, with hints of chai and popcorn and wonderful mineralité. This might turn out to be one of the best white La Missions in recent years.
Antonio Galloni · Vinous · 94-96
The 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is powerful and very deep, despite its understated personality. Orchard fruit, lemon peel, slate, mint, white pepper and chalk all grace the palate. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. This is an especially brisk style that is so attractive.
Georgie Hindle · Decanter · 94
Peach, honeysuckle, a touch of pineapple and lemon zest with floral scents of lemongrass too - subtle perfume. A shot of green apple and lemon zest gives the citrus zing although it turns a little bitter and toasted towards the finish. There's grip however with lovely purity and delicacy. It's a bit of a slow build that needed some coaxing but tension emerges with clear mineral aspects on the finish. 3.25pH.
Yohan Castaing · Wine Advocate · 93-95
The 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc reveals a gently reductive bouquet of pear, white peach, confit citrus and verbena mingled with exotic anise touches that emerge with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's bright and enveloping with an elegantly phenolic mid-palate and a mouthwateringly mordant finish. This is a blend of 59% Sémillon and 41% Sauvignon Blanc.
Jeb Dunnuck · Jeb Dunnuck · 92-94
Based on 59% Semillon and 41% Sauvignon Blanc that had malolactic fermentation blocked and will spend 7 months in barrel, the 2024 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is another juicy, lively, almost racy yet still impressive white from this vintage. Tart lemon, pineapple, honeyed mineral, and minty, gooseberry notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a bright, crisp mouthfeel, terrific overall balance, and a great finish.
