Bordeaux Blanc The wines are generally very aromatic and refreshing with lovely fruit definition, richness and mineral length. Ch Haut-Brion Blanc, Ch La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc and Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, all from Pessac-Léognan were all very good. But Score 95–96 Pale colour. Intense grapefruit, baked lemon, lemon curd, hint pear/ verbena aromas with toasty notes. Generous sweet grapefruit, tonic water, lemon curd fruits, fresh sweet-fruit notes, some toasty oak elements, attractive mid-palate volume and fine persistent electric/ searing acidity. Finishes crisp and tight with pure lemon fruits. Bloody good but never great value! 55% semillon, 45% sauvignon blanc. 45% new oak. 13.5% alc Château Suduiraut Vielles Vignes Grand Vin Blanc Sec Pur Sémillon Score 95–96 Pale medium colour. Intense marzipan, honey, tropical fruit. toasty vanilla aromas. Richy concentrated palate with complex lemon curd, tropical fruit, marzipan, honey flavours, lovely mid-palate density/ viscosity, underlying chalky textures and linear fresh acidity. Very good. 61-year-old vines. 100% semillon. 9 months maturation in 30% new and 70% 1-year-old oak. 13% alc Aile d’Argent Blanc (de Château Mouton Rothschild) Score 94–95 watch out for the prices! Château Haut-Brion Blanc Pale colour. Fragrant lemon curd, grapefruit and hint spearmint aromas. Sweet fruited wine with abundant grapefruit, lemon glacé, tonic water flavours, attractive mid-palate buoyancy, fine lacy textures and underlying savoury/ biscuity notes. Finish chalky with plentiful ripe fruits. Refined and modern. 64% sauvignon blanc, 36% semillon. Château Cos d’Estournel Blanc Score 94–95 Pale colour. Verbena, lemon glacé, tonic water aromas. Generous flavours of grapefruit, lemon curd, pear skin, fine chalky loose-knit textures, lovely mid-palate volume and vibrant long acidity. Very fresh and linear with chalky bitter notes at the finish. 71% sauvignon blanc, 29% semillon. 8% new French oak. 12.3% alc Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc Score 94–95 Pale colour. Bitter lemon, grapefruit aromas with verbena toasty notes. Sweet fruited wine with ample grapefruit, tonic water, leesy flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, some mid-palate viscosity and fresh linear acidity. Oak dominates the back palate but should settle. Attractive minerally wine with fresh chewing tobacco notes. Very tactile. 55% semillon, 45% sauvignon blanc. 55% new oak. 14% alc
82 The Wine Journal – 2023
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