The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is, unusually, dominated by Sauvignon Blanc at 62.7%, with 37.3% Semillon making up the blend. It needs a fair bit of swirling to coax out notes of lime leaves, lemongrass, and shaved ginger, over a core of gooseberry preserves, apple tart, and chalk dust. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has electric intensity, featuring mineral-sparked citrus layers and a silken texture, finishing long and energetic.The Wine Independent | 98 TWIRanking with the top 3-4 whites in the vintage, the 2016 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is Sauvignon-dominated in 2016 and is 62.7% Sauvignon and 37.3% Sémillon. Vibrant and racy, with beautiful tension and purity, it offers a classic perfume of tart apples, dried herbs, lemon curd, and a liquid rock-like minerality that develops with time in the glass. The buzzwords here are vibrant, bright, tight, and great.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDAlthough this has great freshness, candied-lemon and complex dried herb character, it also has a rich and waxy side, plus a touch of vanilla. Rich and powerful with a lot more structure than most Pessac-Léognan whites. It also has wonderful tension and drive that’s rooted in the vibrant acidity, but supported by the mineral and lemon-zest notes. A blend of 62.7 per cent sauvignon blanc and 37.3 per cent semillon. Better from 2021.James Suckling | 96 JSConditions were a little challenging for the Sémillon this year, and the blend of the La Mission Haut-Brion 2016 Blanc is, unusually, dominated by Sauvignon Blanc (62.7%) with 37.3% Sémillon. It reveals subtle notions of mandarin peel, fresh grapefruit and pineapple with touches of crushed rocks, white peaches and coriander seed. Medium-bodied, the palate has a racy line of freshness cutting through the vibrant citrus and tropical layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note. Considering the challenges, this is a very impressive result!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThis is both bold and bright, with a flood of white peach, lemon cream, Jonagold apple, honeysuckle and verbena notes streaming through, all stitched with a fine quinine thread and caressed by a suave hint of shortbread on the finish. Best from 2022 through 2032. 547 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSRising vertically through the palate, it has lift, juiciness, savouriness, and a delicacy that matches the intensity of flavour beat for beat. There is richness and weight through the mid-palate, with almond touches, and I love the mouth-watering salinity on the finish, it’s just so moreish. Unusually there is a majority Sauvignon Blanc in 2016 as there were very high yields in the Sémillon that meant a touch of dilution, plus the heat of the summer meant they were grateful for the fresh kick of Sauvignon Blanc.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has improved on the nose since en primeur, offering gently unfolding white peach, red apple, chalk and light yellow flower aromas. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and linear and a little wavier than its Haut Brion Blanc counterpart, leaving a touch of lemongrass on the aftertaste. A refined, cerebral proposition that will age like those great Lavilles of the past.Vinous Media | 93 VMThis wine is is rich in oak tones that are accompanied by tangy citrus and minerality. The richness and the structure will allow this wine to age further, certainly for the medium term. Drink from 2022. Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE
