2016 Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Product: 20161017092

Prices start from £5,500.00 per case Buying options

Description

Delicate and reserved on the nose, there are notes of white peach, lanolin and a broader, almost Pinot Gris-like character. The palate shows pleasing flavours of creamy vanilla, minerality, citrus, flowers, pear and a persistent, long finish. This has lots of vitality and energy.

Blend: Sauvignon Blanc 70.5%, Sémillon 29.5%

Delivery and quality guarantee

Buying options

Available by the case In Bond. Pricing excludes duty and VAT, which must be paid separately before delivery. Find out more.

You can place a bid for this wine on BBX

Case format

Availability

Price per case

6 x 75cl bottle

BBX marketplace BBX 2 cases £5,500.00

Critics reviews

Wine Advocate96+/100

Jeb Dunnuck99/100

Wine Advocate96+/100

Made up of 70.5% Sauvignon Blanc and 29.5% Smillon, the Haut-Brion 2016 Blanc is a little closed to begin, the nose slowly revealing notes of orange blossoms, fresh ginger, lime zest and wet pebbles over a core of white peaches, pink grapefruit and lemon curd. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic elegance and depth, with layer upon layer of fragrant citrus and stone fruit-inspired flavors and a racy backbone, finishing with epic length.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 30/11/2018 Read more

Jeb Dunnuck99/100

The white of the vintage is the 2016 Haut Brion Blanc, a Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes just under 30% Sémillon. Amazingly deep and rich, yet vibrant at the same time, it offers an exotic, liquid rock-like minerality as well as notes of citrus zest, crushed limes, and white flowers. It’s unquestionably one of the most concentrated, powerful wines out there, yet it still just glides across the palate with flawless integration of its fruit and acidity. It needs short-term cellaring and will keep for 20-30 years if you’re so inclined.

Drink 2022 - 2052

Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com (Feb 2019) Read more

About this WINE

Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc

Chateau Haut Brion is located in the bustling suburb of Pessac on the outskirts of Bordeaux, this 45-hectare 1er Cru Classé property was the only property outside of the Médoc and Sauternes to be included in the 1855 Classifcation. The vineyards (Red: Cabernet Sauvignon 45%; Merlot 37%; Cabernet Franc 18%; White: Semillon 63%; Sauvignon Blanc 37%) lie on large (up to 18 metres deep in places) gravel banks interspersed with clay.

Jean-Bernard Delmas, one of Bordeaux`s great characters, has been régisseur since 1961 and the wine-making is now overseen by Jean-Philippe Masclef. Haut Brion is characterised by its seductive perfume, harmony, elegance and its ability to age with grace and dignity. A superb white is also produced.

Find out more

Sauv.Blanc & Sémillon

The blend used for White Graves and Sauternes and rarely encountered outside France. In the great dry whites of Graves, Sauvignon Blanc tends to predominate in the blend, although properties such as Smith Haut Lafite use 100% Sauvignon Blanc while others such as Laville Haut Brion have as much as 60% Sémillon in their final blends. Sauvignon Blanc wines can lose their freshness and fruit after a couple of years in bottle - if blended with Sémillon, then the latter bolsters the wine when the initial fruit from the Sauvignon fades. Ultimately Sauvignon Blanc gives the wine its aroma and raciness while Sémillon gives it backbone and longevity.

In Sauternes, Sémillon is dominant, with Sauvignon Blanc playing a supporting role - it is generally harvested about 10 days before Sémillon and the botrytis concentrates its sweetness and dampens Sauvignon Blanc`s naturally pungent aroma. It contributes acidity, zip and freshness to Sauternes and is an important component of the blend.