Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, 2024

"The 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, which has more Sémillon in the blend, was reticent on the nose and demanded more coaxing than usual, (reluctantly) offering scents of red apple, lime flower and crushed stone. The palate is more expressive with impressive weight and density. The 2024 is fresh and vibrant with palpable tension, revealing a tingle of lemongrass and stem ginger towards its sustained finish. When I returned to my glass after 20 minutes, the aromatics had burst open and shown their true colours, with hints of chai and popcorn and wonderful mineralité. This might turn out to be one of the best white La Missions in recent years."

"Beautifully gripping and fragrant aromatics, sage, white apricot and peach, this is a wonderful wine, aerian, lilts upwards through the palate, has tenacity but with the gentlest of grips, white roses, apple blossom, preserved citrus, precise and pretty yet with a slow build of complexity. Clear ageing ability, one of the wines of the vintage. 40% new oak Harvest September 2 to 10. 3.25ph, 38hl/h yield."

"The 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is powerful and very deep, despite its understated personality. Orchard fruit, lemon peel, slate, mint, white pepper and chalk all grace the palate. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. This is an especially brisk style that is so attractive."