2015 Château Haut-Brion Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Haut-Brion Blanc does not quite deliver the same complexity as the Domaine de Chevalier Blanc or the La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, but it gradually opens to reveal attractive peach skin, marzipan and orange pith scents that feel pure and clean. The fresh, crisp palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, supremely well integrated oak and a persistent orange zest and apricot-tinged finish. This just oozes class and sophistication. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Tim Atkin MW
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Haut-Brion Blanc is positively stunning. Among other things, I am absolutely amazed by how fresh and vibrant the 2015 is today. The citrus, floral and mineral notes pulse with tons of energy. Sauvignon Blanc plays the leading role, but the Blanc doesn't really taste like Sauvignon Blanc - it tastes like Haut-Brion Blanc. In that sense, the 2015 is a wine of place first, while the varietal blend does not appear to be that important at all.
Composed of 69% Sauvignon Blanc and 31% Semillon, the Haut-Brion 2015 Blanc simply sings with melodious notes of ripe Bosc pears, Golden Delicious apple slices, fresh pineapple and honeyed apricots, providing a highly emotive leitmotif of chalk dust, yuzu zest, shaved almonds and beeswax not to mention the faintest tone of pure lime blossom. The medium to full-bodied palate contributes a compelling steeliness to all those incredible layers, plus a fantastic frame of freshness, finishing with multifaceted mineral and citrus accents. The many tightly wound nuances here as well as the built-like-a-brick-house structure promise to greatly reward the patient over the next 25+ years. Trust me, lovers of this style will be kicking themselves if they don’t purchase a few bottles of this amazing vintage while they can.
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Brion is the only classified growth in Pessac-Léognan. One of the five First Growths, it is renowned for producing both exceptional reds and whites. Along with its sister estate, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, it is part of the Clarence Dillon stable.