2021 Le Clarence de Haut Brion
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Le Clarence Haut-Brion is a slightly darker, richer wine with lots of black cherries, scorched earth, and graphite notes as well as medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. Balanced, elegant, and seamless, it's certainly a beautiful wine and as well as a terrific introduction to this château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is deep, fleshy and super-expressive. Like all of the wines in this vintage here, the Clarence is on the lighter side, but that is not a bad thing. Primary dark fruit, leather, spice and tobacco fill out the layers nicely.
The 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a very pure bouquet of blueberry, cedar and violet, perhaps slightly more ethereal than the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion. The palate is medium-bodied with quite strict tannins and a little more saline than expected, leading to a fresh finish. Maybe it lacks a bit of persistence, but it is a fine Deuxième Vin.
Made from 70% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is deep garnet-purple colored. It sings of ripe black and red plums, wild blueberries, and mossy tree bark, with touches of truffles and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate has a harmonious frame of soft tannins and bags of freshness supporting the lively plum-inspired flavors, finishing with a peppery lift.
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Brion is the only classified growth in Pessac-Léognan. One of the five First Growths, it is renowned for producing both exceptional reds and whites. Along with its sister estate, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, it is part of the Clarence Dillon stable.