2018 Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

2018 Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Product: 20181017092
Prices start from £1,750.00 per case Buying options
2018 Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

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Available by the case In Bond. Pricing excludes duty and VAT, which must be paid separately before delivery. Storage charges apply.
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3 x 75cl bottle
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Description

Even with just over 80% Sauvignon Blanc this year, this is superbly constructed. It is rich in texture but assertively dry on the finish. The warmth of the vintage is evident in lower levels of citrus notes, but the compensation comes with the broad and complex palate, encompassing with layers of warm stone, petrichor, quince, lemongrass and ginger. Drink 2024-2032.

Blend: 81% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Sémillon

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Critics reviews

Antonio Galloni, Vinous91-94
The 2018 Haut-Brion Blanc is built on a vertical expression of structure and texture that makes it resemble of a red wine in its feel. Bright Sauvignon Blanc lend energy to the citrus peel, floral and mineral note. Haut-Brion Blanc has quite a bit to offer, but it is very embryonic at this stage. The 2018 is 80.6% Sauvignon and 19.4% Sémillon.
Antonio Galloni
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Wine Advocate94-96+/100
The Haut-Brion 2018 Blanc is composed of 80.6% Sauvignon Blanc and 19.4% Smillon, harvested August 27 to September 5this is the highest level of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend ever. It comes sashaying out of the glass with flamboyant notions of warm pineapple, passion fruit, lime cordial and lemongrass and hints of dried mandarin peel, peach blossoms, wild thyme and wet pebbles plus a waft of dill seed. Full-bodied and profoundly fruited in the mouth, the silky, vivacious frame has a lot of intense tropical notions and yet is jam-packed with delicate nuances, finishing with great length and a lot of emerging mineral and citrus layers. Big and beautiful.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 23/04/2019 Read more
James Suckling95-96/100
A dense and ripe white with sliced apples and pineapple and hints of cooked lemons. Round and velvety texture. Flavorful finish. Shows intensity and richness.
James Suckling  Read more
Other94-96+
More Sauvignon-dominated (there's 19.4% Sémillon), the 2018 Haut-Brion Blanc is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and has both richness and freshness. Tart pineapple, citrus blossom, hints of orange blossom, and crushed rock-like characteristics all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant white that has plenty of oomph on the mid-palate, bright acidity, and a great, great finish. It’s another thrilling wine from this estate as well as one of the top whites in the vintage.
Jeb Dunnock Read more

About this WINE

Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc

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.

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Pessac-Leognan

Pessac-Leognan

In 1986 a new communal district was created within Graves, in Bordeaux,  based on the districts of Pessac and Léognan, the first of which lies within the suburbs of the city. Essentially this came about through pressure from Pessac-Léognan vignerons, who wished to disassociate themselves from growers with predominately sandy soils further south in Graves.

Pessac-Léognan has the best soils of the region, very similar to those of the Médoc, although the depth of gravel is more variable, and contains all the classed growths of the region. Some of its great names, including Ch. Haut-Brion, even sit serenely and resolutely in Bordeaux's southern urban sprawl.

The climate is milder than to the north of the city and the harvest can occur up to two weeks earlier. This gives the best wines a heady, rich and almost savoury character, laced with notes of tobacco, spice and leather. Further south, the soil is sandier with more clay, and the wines are lighter, fruity and suitable for earlier drinking.

Recommended Châteaux: Ch. Haut-Brion, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, Ch. Pape Clément, Ch Haut-Bailly, Domaine de Chevalier, Ch. Larrivet-Haut-Brion, Ch. Carmes Haut-Brion, Ch. La Garde, Villa Bel-Air.

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Sauvignon Blanc & Sémillon

Sauvignon 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.

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