Chateau Haut Brion - Chateau Haut Brion blanc 2013

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is a very special Haut-Brion blanc with very exotic aromas and flavors of apricots, peaches, and mangos. Full bodied, dense and agile. Wonderful acidity. Loads of dried fruits on the finish. The high percentage of sauvignon blanc (70%) gives this wine a unique character. Electric fruit yet salty undertones. Drink or hold."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has weight, length and cut for days, as white peach, tangerine oil, blanched almond, pear eau-de-vie, macadamia nut, chamomile and green plum notes all fit together seamlessly, while the finish sails on and on, with echoes of macadamia nut and brioche. Opulent and pure, showing stunning mouthfeel to boot. Rare for a white to be the wine of the vintage in Bordeaux, but this may be it. Best from 2017 through 2030. 583 cases made."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: 97 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Lively, bright, sweet, just squeezed, yellow citrus fruits, with searing acidity, the wine makes me think of fresh grapefruit juice drizzled over rocks in the hot sun."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The production is tiny, yet the potential of this wine is enormous, with its tight, textured structure that is still so young. It is opulent and generous while still keeping a tight rein on its emotions. A steely core is surrounded by fruit that has hints of apricots as well as citrus. This will be a very fine wine but it needs many years, so wait until 2022."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2013 Haut Brion Blanc, which is a blend of 66% Sauvignon Blanc and 34% Semillon, has a more expressive bouquet than the 2013 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, with mineral-rich citrus fruit, grapefruit and honeysuckle - all very vivacious. The palate is very well balanced, intense and exuberant with lanolin-tinged citrus fruit, dried pineapple, almond, sweet fig and a dash of lemongrass on the long finish. This is just a superb Haut Brion Blanc that should give two or three decades of pleasure."

DECANTER: "Fullish lemon-yellow, lots of natural richness and depth, both more seductive and more serious than La Mission Blanc´s Montrachet compared with Chevalier. Fantastic purity of expression, a great wine."