Haut-Brion Blanc - My Pick For Best White Bordeaux In 2006!

Château Haut-Brion was founded by the Pontacs, a wine merchant family, and was once owned by Talleyrand, Napoléon’s minister of foreign affairs, has endured various transitions over the centuries. By the early 20th century, the once-glorious estate was in debt and in disrepair. However, in 1934, American Francophile Clarence Dillon acquired Haut-Brion, and his fam­ily eventually restored it. Since 1983, the Dillon family also has owned La Mission Haut-Brion , La Tour Haut-Brion and the white wine-only property Laville Haut-Brion. Whilst the red Haut-Brion's are notoriously chased by wine collectors all over the world, their white wines are often overlooked. For 2006 the Haut-Brion Blanc is defenitly my pick for the best white Bordeaux (other than D'Yquem which obviously is a dessert wine). Haut-Brion Blanc is scarce, with only about 8,000 bottles available per vintage. The white vineyards at Haut-Brion are planted to 63 percent Sémillon and 37 percent Sauvignon Blanc. That gives this wine its combination of Sémillon-driven body and Sauvignon-influenced scent. Haut-Brion Blanc ages just beautifully.

The 2002 Haut-Brion Blanc is very powerful and complex and never loses its finesse and purity of fruit. There are also notes of spice and nuts. It surely will continue to mature gracefully for several decades. This is a bottle you need to have in your cellar.