Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 95
The 2013 Haut Brion Blanc, which is a blend of 66% Sauvignon Blanc and 34% Semillon, has a more expressive bouquet than the 2013 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, with mineral-rich citrus fruit, grapefruit and honeysuckle – all very vivacious. The palate is very well balanced, intense and exuberant with lanolin-tinged citrus fruit, dried pineapple, almond, sweet fig and a dash of lemongrass on the long finish. This is just a superb Haut Brion Blanc that should give two or three decades of pleasure.
Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050
Vinous 93-96
(66% sauvignon and 34% semillon; 46 hl/ha yield): Bright yellow-gold. Knockout nose combines honeyed notes of stone, custard cream, ripe green fig, lemongrass and quince. Then very rich, multilayered and deep, with creamy flavors of gooseberry, aromatic herbs and white chocolate complicated by a peppery nuance and a hint of menthol. Finishes extremely long and saline, with juicy acidity and marvelous mouthcoating texture. This potentially fantastic wine is clearly dominated by its sauvignon component in the early going. This has to be one of Bordeaux’s top 10 wines of 2013, reds and Sauternes included.
