La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Blanc 2018

98 points James Suckling: “This is a dense and lively La Mission white with lemon, lime and cream character and a light mineral and salty undertone. White pepper and salt at the finish. (2/10/21)”

97 points Wine Spectator: “[$720 list] Intense, with a very vibrant mix of tangerine, white peach, acacia, Meyer lemon, thyme and verbena notes all getting a turn as they race through. Long, salted butter note underscores the finish. A wine that marries brightness and purity with richness and opulence. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Best from 2022 through 2034. (3/31/21)”

97 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "A cornucopia of yellow, green and orange citrus is accompanied by hints of yellow tropical yellow fruit, honeysuckle and spice on the nose. Round, lush, rich and long on the palate, the finish leaves you with layers of sweet, juicy Meyer lemons, crisp green apple, crushed rocks, stone and a touch of honey. Made from a blend of 57.4% Sauvignon Blanc and 42.6% Semillon. This is only the second time you find more Sauvignon Blanc than Semillon in the blend. (Mar 2021)"

96 points Neal Martin (Vinous): “Tasted side by side, the 2018 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is unequivocally a few steps ahead of the 2018 Haut-Brion Blanc. I made sure to decant my bottle for three hours before penning a single note, as it always demands aeration. Slightly deeper in color, which is nothing unusual, it has a more complex bouquet of yellow fruit, peach skin, almond shavings, hazelnut and light lanolin notes, all beautifully defined. The palate is extremely well balanced with a tangy, marmalade-tinged entry, dried honey and a slight pepperiness toward the finish. Very cohesive and focused, this is a marvelous, quite cerebral La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc. Superb. Drink: 2022-2050. (Mar 2021)”

96 points Jeb Dunnuck: “A richer, more textured wine than the Haut-Brion Blanc, no doubt due to its larger Sémillon content, the 2018 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc reveals a medium gold hue as well as beautiful pineapple, honeyed lime, star fruit, and floral aromas and flavors. Nicely concentrated on the palate, it's medium to full-bodied and offers beautiful acidity, plenty of depth and richness, and a great finish. A slightly softer wine, it doesn't have the precision of its counter mate yet brings more texture and opulence. It's another brilliant white that will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve for 15+ years or so. Drink: 2021-2036. (3/11/21)”

96 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): “The La Mission Haut-Brion 2018 Blanc is a blend of 57.4% Sauvignon Blanc and 42.6% Sémillon. It sashays out of the glass with gregarious notes of white peaches, fresh pears and pineapple with nuances of lime blossoms, crushed rocks and sea spray, plus a waft of beeswax. The racy, medium to full-bodied palate is charged with energy, delivering vibrant citrus and tropical fruit layers with a satiny texture and fantastic length. Completely exceeding my barrel tasting expectations, this promises to be an earlier drinking style, albeit multilayered, dripping with class and, yes, it's downright sexy. Give it just a few more months in bottle and then it should offer decadent drinking for the next 15+ years. Drink: 2022-2037. (Mar 2021)”