Critic Review
2021 Bordeaux: L’Enfant Terrible (Feb 2024)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc marries the natural energy of this cool year with lovely mid-palate creaminess and texture. Understated yet persistent, the 2021 presents a gorgeous display of pear, white flowers and mint, along with a subtle touch of oak that frames the finish. Today, the 2021 is quite a bit less expressive than it was en primeur. It was also bottled in May 2022 (versus May 2023 for the reds) and may be in a closed period, which is not unusual for wines from cold years. We shall see.
Antonio Galloni - 95
2+2=5: Bordeaux 2021 In Bottle (Feb 2024)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has a nuanced, understated bouquet with yellow plum, Anjou pear and hints of honeysuckle—very low key and tightly knit, yet very well-defined. The palate is beautifully balanced with a tangy entry and a citric bead of acidity, revealing orange rind and kaki fruit toward the finish that is full of tension. This is neck and neck with the Haut-Brion Blanc at the moment, yet may surpass it in the long-run.
Neal Martin - 96.5
Enticingly Fallible: Bordeaux 2021 En Primeur (May 2022)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has a much more nuanced bouquet than the Haut-Brion Blanc this year with scents of Japanese yuzu, crushed stone, apple blossom and a touch of elderflower. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, taut and fresh, vibrant and focused. This is more linear than the Haut-Brion and stricter, yet the precision on the finish is a wonder to behold. Fabulous.
Neal Martin - 95-97
2021 Bordeaux En Primeur: Back to Classicism (May 2022)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is another super-expressive white in this range from the Clarence Dillon properties. Effusive floral and citrus notes lend brightness to this creamy, wonderfully inviting Blanc. Deep and textured, the 2021 finishes with real substance. Its a positively gorgeous wine by any measure. The Sémillon is especially vibrant in 2021.
Antonio Galloni - 94-96
2021 Bordeaux: L’Enfant Terrible (Feb 2024)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc marries the natural energy of this cool year with lovely mid-palate creaminess and texture. Understated yet persistent, the 2021 presents a gorgeous display of pear, white flowers and mint, along with a subtle touch of oak that frames the finish. Today, the 2021 is quite a bit less expressive than it was en primeur. It was also bottled in May 2022 (versus May 2023 for the reds) and may be in a closed period, which is not unusual for wines from cold years. We shall see.
Antonio Galloni - 95
2+2=5: Bordeaux 2021 In Bottle (Feb 2024)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has a nuanced, understated bouquet with yellow plum, Anjou pear and hints of honeysuckle—very low key and tightly knit, yet very well-defined. The palate is beautifully balanced with a tangy entry and a citric bead of acidity, revealing orange rind and kaki fruit toward the finish that is full of tension. This is neck and neck with the Haut-Brion Blanc at the moment, yet may surpass it in the long-run.
Neal Martin - 96.5
Enticingly Fallible: Bordeaux 2021 En Primeur (May 2022)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has a much more nuanced bouquet than the Haut-Brion Blanc this year with scents of Japanese yuzu, crushed stone, apple blossom and a touch of elderflower. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, taut and fresh, vibrant and focused. This is more linear than the Haut-Brion and stricter, yet the precision on the finish is a wonder to behold. Fabulous.
Neal Martin - 95-97
2021 Bordeaux En Primeur: Back to Classicism (May 2022)
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is another super-expressive white in this range from the Clarence Dillon properties. Effusive floral and citrus notes lend brightness to this creamy, wonderfully inviting Blanc. Deep and textured, the 2021 finishes with real substance. Its a positively gorgeous wine by any measure. The Sémillon is especially vibrant in 2021.
Antonio Galloni - 94-96
