Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is the neighbour and peer of Chateau Haut-Brion in Pessac-Leognan, owned since 1983 by Domaine Clarence Dillon and regarded by many critics as the effective sixth First Growth of Bordeaux. Its white wine is one of the rarest dry whites produced in France: just 400 to 600 cases are made annually from a vineyard blended historically around Semillon, with Sauvignon Blanc and occasionally a touch of Muscadelle. The Blanc commands prices and critical attention far beyond what its modest production would suggest.

The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is historically notable as the first vintage in which Sauvignon Blanc constituted the dominant variety in the blend, a departure driven by the exceptional growing conditions of that harvest. The 2016 white Bordeaux vintage was classic and precise, characterised by a dry, warm summer, a timely September break that preserved acidity, and a dry October harvest. The vineyard shares the same deep gravel terraces as Haut-Brion, and the chalky, mineral precision those soils impart is central to the wine's identity.

La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc occupies a position in the dry white Bordeaux category that has almost no competition: less than 50,000 bottles exist in the world at any given time, and virtually all are allocated directly to existing clients at the chateau or traded on secondary markets at substantial premiums. The 2016, with its atypical Sauvignon Blanc-dominant composition, represents a unique chapter in the estate's century-long Blanc history. It is simultaneously a collector's document and an outstanding wine in its own right, suited to fifteen to twenty more years of cellar ageing.

Pair with sole meuniere, grilled langoustines with bisque, or aged comte and truffled dishes. The 2016's unusual Sauvignon Blanc-forward character brings aromatic freshness that distinguishes it from many other La Mission Blanc vintages, while the Semillon contribution ensures the textural weight and longevity the estate is known for.