2009 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Leognan

An exquisite blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine possesses a zesty crushed rock component intermixed with lemon butter, fig, white currant, quince and melons. Its steely backbone of acidity gives precision and zestiness to what is a full-bodied, powerful, concentrated dry white that should evolve for 20 or more years.

Tasted at Christies' Boardroom dinner from an ex-chateau bottle. Now with three of four years in bottle, the 2009 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc serves up a delightful white Pessac-Leognan. It has a slightly paler colour compared to the Haut-Brion Blanc served alongside. The bouquet is complex with attractive lime flower, lemon curd and heightened marine influences (cockle shell and seaweed.) The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, spicier than I recollect with a twist of ginger towards the sensual finish. This is a superb, long-term white Pessac-Leognan. Tasted November 2013.

[84SM/16SB] Pale greeny gold; dense, lemon and mineral nose; rich but with a good fresh acidity; vivid, concentrated flavour, intense, savoury, powerful; long and energetic in the mouth, long and warm to finish; generous, ripe, ample, satisfying. 2018-30+