A notably ripe but still reasonably classic Pucelles nose of honeysuckle, citrus and white orchard fruit aromas, in particular pear, leads to rich, forward and wonderfully opulent medium-bodied flavors that brim with dry extract that coats the palate on the refined and impressively long finish. As it always is, this is a classy wine of finesse but with a generous side to it in 2009. Jun 01, 2012, Allen Meadows (Burghound.com)
Bursting with aromas of confit citrus, nectarine, grapefruit and pastry cream, the 2021 Aile d'Argent is a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine that's ample and textural, and indeed a touch fat, despite the cooler vintage. It's a blend of 45% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Sauvignon Gris and the balance Sémillon. Issue 260 End of April 2022, The Wine Advocate, 29th Apr 2022, William Kelley
The 2021 Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc exhibits aromas of confit citrus, crisp orchard fruit and pastry cream, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive palate that's textural but tensile, concluding with a saline finish. A maturing vineyard combined with winemaking that emphasizes plenty of lees has delivered an excellent result this year. Issue 260 End of April 2022, The Wine Advocate, 29th Apr 2022, William Kelley
Representing 13% of the estate's production (a further 18% was sold off in bulk), the 2021 Le Petit Cheval exhibits aromas of cherries, sweet berries, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and spices. Medium to full-bodied, lively and nicely concentrated, with powdery tannins and a saline finish, it's a blend of 60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The Wine Advocate William Kelley, Published: Apr 29, 2022
Reimagined in a more vibrant style, in a Burgundy/Loire bottle, the 2021 R de Rieussec exhibits scents of citrus oil, gooseberry and botanicals, followed by a medium-bodied, bright and vibrant palate, with tangy acids and a nicely defined finish. It's an attractive middleweight that avoids the pungently varietal, heavily sulfitic caricatural style so prevalent in contemporary Bordeaux, while managing to reinvent what was historically a rather richer, more fruit-driven wine. Dec 22, 2023 The Wine Advocate William Kelley
Composed of 52% Sauvignon Blanc, 14% Sauvignon Gris and 34% Sémillon, the 2020 Aile d'Argent has no Muscadelle this year, no skin contact and no malolactic. It sails out of the glass with fabulously flamboyant notes of fresh pineapple, nectarines and jasmine, plus suggestions of key lime pie, passion fruit and orange zest. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers opulent tropical and citrus fruit layers, supported by plenty of freshness and a decadent touch of oiliness to the texture, finishing long and impactful. So hard to resist even at this nascent stage, I can't wait to see how this is going to age! May 2021 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 20th May 2021, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 Carbonnieux Blanc delivers loads of zesty sparks of yuzu and lime peels over a core of green apples, fresh grapefruit and crushed rock with a hint of wild thyme. The medium-bodied palate is crisp and refreshing, offering a great intensity of citrusy flavors with a chalky finish. May 2021 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 20th May 2021, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 Cos d'Estournel Blanc is composed of 66% Sauvignon Blanc and 34% Semillon, with an alcohol of 14% and a pH of 3.15. The harvest took place August 31–September 10 with a yield of 24 hectoliters per hectare. It is aging in French oak barrels, 8% new. It bursts from the glass with vibrant notes of lime blossoms, fresh grapefruit and white peaches, plus hints of ripe pears and lemongrass with wafts of chalk dust and wet pebbles. The medium-bodied palate is charged with intense citrus and stony flavors, supported by a seriously racy line of acidity, finishing long and minerally. May 2021 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 20th May 2021, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 Coutet has a pale lemon-gold color, waltzing out of the glass with energetic notes of lemon tart, pink grapefruit, green mango and lime blossoms, with hints of chopped almonds, clover honey, candle wax and straw, plus a waft of sea spray. The palate is all class, featuring ethereal intensity and amazing poise, enveloped in a satiny texture and seamless acidity, finishing long and mineral laced. Currently, while it is just a tick or so down on the impressive 2019, I love the restraint and energy of this 2020 and wouldn't be surprised if it eventually spreads its wings and surpasses its showier sibling over time. The Wine Advocate Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Published: Jul 30, 2021
The 2020 Doisy Daëne Blanc Sec gives up notes of fresh pears and white peaches with a savory undercurrent of baking bread, allspice and almonds. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing, offering a lovely purity of spiced pears flavors with a racy backbone and zesty lift on the finish. May 2021 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 20th May 2021, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is showing nicely in bottle, bursting with notions of grapefruit, nectarine, lemongrass and pastry cream. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a sweet core of fruit and a chalky finish, it will offer demonstrative drinking young. April 2023 Week 1, The Wine Advocate, 6th Apr 2023, William Kelley
The 2020 Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc is a little closed to begin, soon unfurling to offer notes of fresh yellow apple, ripe Bosc pears and key lime pie, plus subtle hints of paraffin wax and lemongrass. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with apple and citrus layers, supported by compelling tension, finishing steely. May 2021 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 20th May 2021, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 Monbousquet Blanc is a blend of 62% Sauvignon Blanc and 38% Sauvignon Gris, aging for six months in 25% vats, 38% new oak barrels and 37% one-year-old barrels. It springs from the glass with exuberant notes of fresh Bosc pears, white peaches and green guava, plus and undercurrent of lime blossoms, lemongrass and chalk dust. The medium-bodied palate is clean and refreshing, with a seriously zippy line of freshness cutting through the pear and tropical fruit flavors, finishing long and zesty. May 20, 2021, The Wine Advocate, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Offering up notes of crisp nectarine, lemongrass and white flowers, the 2020 Pape Clément Blanc is medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, with bright acids, attractive purity of fruit and a long, aromatic finish. This is the most elegant white wine produced by this estate over the last decade, and it has turned out well in bottle. The Wine Advocate William Kelley, Published: Apr 06, 2023
The 2020 Rieussec emerges from a very challenging year marked by an early harvest and just one small window in September with the requisite amount of botrytis in the field. Lemon confit, marzipan, tangerine oil and white flowers are all beautifully woven together in a mid-weight, gracious Rieussec that is all class. Residual sugar is 120 grams per liter, but is not especially evident. Production will be around 10,000 bottles, in other words, a fraction of what is typical here. Antonio Galloni, Vinous
This is only the second vintage of this dry white wine made from the Chateau Climens's vineyard in Sauternes, in collaboration with Pascal Jolivet from Sancerre. It is 100% Sémillon, fermented and aged in stainless steel. The nose has a lovely, soft-spoken restraint, offering notes of lemon peel, fresh hay, Bosc pears and paraffin wax with touches of coriander seed, honeysuckle and toasted almonds. The medium-bodied palate has beautifully understated savory and mineral nuances accenting the citrus and spiced pears flavors with a lively line of freshness and a satiny texture, finishing long and perfumed. I'm seriously smitten by this uniquely fragrant, uncontrived style of dry white coming from Sauternes—bravo! It is delicious right now, but I'd like to see what this does with 5+ years of cellaring. As with Chateau Climens, this wine is certified both organic and biodynamic. End of September 2020, The Wine Advocate, 30th Sep 2020, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
With aromas of confit citrus fruit, peaches, grapefruit and pastry cream, the 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a satiny attack that segues into an ample core of fruit underpinned by lively acids and chalky structure. A combined second wine for both Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, this has turned out nicely in bottle, delivering a wine that's richer and headier in style than its 2018 predecessor. April 2022 Week 1, The Wine Advocate, 7th Apr 2022, William Kelley
Pale lemon-gold in color, the 2019 Rieussec flaunts a delicately scented nose of fresh grapefruit, lemon curd, lime leaves and clover honey with wafts of jasmine, white truffles and nutmeg. The palate slowly builds, revealing layers of apple and citrus fruits with loads of savory accents, framed by refreshing acidity and a seductively oily texture, finishing on a lingering honey-nut note. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate
The 2018 Caillou Blanc de Talbot comes bounding out of the glass with bold, tropical scents of fresh pineapples and passion fruit plus hints of lemongrass and ginger. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is ripe and seductive with just enough freshness and a long, tropical finish. April 2019 Week 4 - Bordeaux 2018, The Wine Advocate, 24th Apr 2019, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The Haut-Brion 2018 Blanc is composed of 80.6% Sauvignon Blanc and 19.4% Sémillon, harvested August 27 to September 5—this 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. The Wine Advocate (236), 24th Apr 2019, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The Monbousquet 2018 Blanc is composed of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Sémillon and 5% Muscadelle. It has 13.75% alcohol and a 3.37 pH. The nose is fairly closed to begin, needing a good bit of air to unlock notions of white peaches, honeydew melon, fresh pears and yellow apple with wafts of white pepper, oyster shell and honeysuckle. The palate is medium-bodied with a refreshing line carrying the chalk and apple inspired elements to a long, savory finish. End of March 2021, The Wine Advocate, 31 Mar 2021, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2017 Coutet has a super intense nose of ripe apricots, honey-coated nuts, warm pineapple and mango with touches of nutmeg and orange blossoms. Rich, sweet and unctuous, it has wonderful intensity and depth, finishing with fantastic length. March 2020 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 17 Mar 2020, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
There was just a little frost here this year. Blended of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Sémillon and 5% Muscadelle, the 2017 Blanc comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of ripe apricots, lemon curd and tangerine peel plus nuances of lime leaves, honeysuckle, cedar and chalk dust. Medium-bodied, the palate is very fresh and vibrant with loads of citrusy layers and a minerally backbone, finishing with great length and loads of zip. March 2020 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 17th Mar 2020, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The Pape Clement 2017 Blanc (composed of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Sémillon) has loads of exotic fruit—pineapple, green guava and passion fruit—with crushed stones, fragrant herbs and mandarin peel hints. The palate is medium-bodied, intense and racy with a long, pure, exotic fruit finish. The Wine Advocate, Mar 2020, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Margaux has a spraying system to combat frost at the Pavillon Blanc vineyard, but they lost a bit of production, with yields finishing at 22 hectoliters per hectare. The nose of the 2017 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux is a little reticent to begin, giving way to beautiful white peach, grapefruit and lemongrass notes plus hints of mandarin peel, honeysuckle, baking bread and just a waft of ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate is very crisp and super intense, laden with citrus and stone fruit layers, coupled with a lovely satiny texture and plenty of weight without feeling heavy, finishing with incredible length and a lingering mineral note. The Wine Advocate (236), 27th Apr 2018, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Margaux has a spraying system to combat frost at the Pavillon Blanc vineyard, but they lost a bit of production, with yields finishing at 22 hectoliters per hectare. The nose of the 2017 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux is a little reticent to begin, giving way to beautiful white peach, grapefruit and lemongrass notes plus hints of mandarin peel, honeysuckle, baking bread and just a waft of ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate is very crisp and super intense, laden with citrus and stone fruit layers, coupled with a lovely satiny texture and plenty of weight without feeling heavy, finishing with incredible length and a lingering mineral note. 236, The Wine Advocate, 27 Apr 2018, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2017 Blanc prances out of the glass with pretty, cheerful scents of fresh green apples, lemongrass, lime leaves and white peaches plus spicy touches of fresh ginger, coriander seed and white pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity and tension, with a racy backbone cutting through the tightly knit citrus and spice layers, finishing long and mineral laced. March 2020 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, 17th Mar 2020, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2017 Y de Yquem was picked very early from 16 August to 25 August. It was released the week prior to my visit. Side by side, the bouquet is almost identical to the 2018 with green apple and hints of yellow flower, the Sauvignon Blanc very expressive (75% of the blend). The palate is sweet and a little more viscous thanks to the additional gram of residual sugar compared to the previous vintage with hints of nectarine and apricot laced with lemongrass towards the persistent finish. Excellent. Sep 2019, Neal Martin, Vinous.com
The Pape Clement 2016 Blanc is a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 36% Sémillon, 9% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Muscadelle. It leaps from the glass with gregarious scents of ripe peaches, fresh grapefruit and key lime pie plus touches of cedar, honeysuckle and toast. Medium-bodied, the palate offers fantastic precision and depth, with layers of citrus and stone fruit flavors supported by a racy line of freshness, finishing very long. Interim End of November 2018, The Wine Advocate, 1 Dec 2018, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2015 Blanc de Lynch-Bages has a little bit of sulfides on the nose with struck match scents over a core of lemon curd, ripe pears and peach kernels with touches of dried herbs and baking bread. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing with phenolic grip and a long, mineral finish. Interim Issue Mid-February 2018, The Wine Advocate, 22 Feb 2018, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2015 Pape Clement Blanc is blended of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon and 10% Sauvignon Gris, fermented in 55% new and 45% one-year-old oak barrels. It aged for 16 months in barrels, with the entire time spent on the fine lees. It has quite a closed, reticent nose featuring ripe peaches, musk perfume and struck flint notes with a suggestion of lemon curd and honeycomb plus a touch of coriander seed. Medium-bodied with a crisp backbone, the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors trail off beautifully into a lingering honeyed finish. Interim Issue Mid-February 2018, The Wine Advocate, 22nd Feb 2018, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of 50% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Brion is reticent to begin, languidly revealing crushed black cherries, ripe black plums and wild blueberries with sparks of cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, espresso, unsmoked cigars, tapenade, crushed rocks and lavender. The full-bodied palate possesses wonderfully complementary contrasts of bold black and blue fruit richness and delicately nuanced cherry fruit, baking spices and floral accents, strutting ripe, finely pixelated tannins and seamless acidity that is placed firmly in the background, finishing very long and with plenty of attitude. This impeccably poised, exquisitely perfumed 2015 Haut-Brion possesses the most alluring yet seemingly effortless beauty. While it bears only a passing resemblance in its opulent personality to the now legendary 1989, like that vintage the 2015 cannot fail to hedonically satiate and intellectually edify all lovers of great Bordeaux who drink it. What’s more, it also has the blue-blooded tenaciousness to remain this jaw-droppingly impressive, throughout its many guises over time, and for a very, very long time. Interim Issue Mid-February 2018, The Wine Advocate, 22 Feb 2018, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2014 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is a beautiful white Pessac-Léognan. It offers a very succinct and focused bouquet of dew-speckled Granny Smiths, then flint and wet limestone, certainly a more stony bouquet than overt fruit. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, exquisite balance, the citrus fruit dappled with white pepper and spices, but everything very judicious and nuanced. It offers wonderful persistence in the mouth, basically a class act that comes strongly recommended. Interim End of March, The Wine Advocate, 1st Apr 2017, Neal Martin
The 2014 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc is now more expressive than when I tasted it from barrel. It offers engaging scents of citrus fruit, Mirabelle and orange pith that gradually gathers intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, finely tuned citrus fruit married with Clementine and yellow plum, seguing into a spicy finish that lingers in the mouth. It is a delicious, complex Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc that should age well over the next 12-15 years. Interim End of March, The Wine Advocate, 1st Apr 2017, Neal Martin
The 2013 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is very refined on the nose. There is a sense of effortlessness here that is very persuasive, unfolding with lemon thyme and lime, just a touch of lychee in the background, everything in its right place. The palate is fresh and vibrant with nectarine and lime zest, a "cool" white Bordeaux, quite restrained and almost Chablis-like on the finish. This is a complex and intellectual offering from Olivier Bernard, dare I say, a thrilling wine in the making. 227, The Wine Advocate, 29 Oct 2016, Neal Martin
The 2013 Suduiraut has one of the more flamboyant bouquets of the vintage, one that is actually reminiscent of de Fargues. There are copious Satsuma and dried honey scents, hints of beeswax and almond that keep your snout in the glass. The palate is very well-balanced with a viscous entry, just a touch of marmalade and quince coming through, and then blossoming toward the weighty finish that shows just a touch more oak at the moment. This is an excellent Suduiraut. The Wine Advocate, Apr 30, 2014, Neal Martin
The second wine from the owners of Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion, the 2012 La Clarte is a blend of 58% Semillon and 42% Sauvignon Blanc. This strong effort boasts beautiful notes of apricots, honey, candle wax and melons in a rich, full-bodied, concentrated format. A stunner, it should age effortlessly for a decade or more. Wine Advocate (206),Apr 2013, Robert M. Parker, Jr
The 2012 Pape Clement, a profound blend of 45% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Semillon, 5% Sauvignon Gris and the rest Muscadelle, is once again a fabulous effort. Gorgeous notes of honeysuckle, pineapple, orange blossoms and mangoes soar from the glass of this full-bodied, unctuously textured, zesty, well-delineated white Pessac-Leognan from a suburb of Bordeaux. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. Wine Advocate (206), Apr 2013, Robert Parker