2019 Plantiers du Haut Brion Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion has a bold and powerful nose, quite reduced at first and with a hefty dose of sulphur. The palate is likewise powerful and oaky, reductive with a nutty and smoky finish. This pales against the bottle poured at the château just after bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Critic scores
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Pretty pale. Quite rich and interesting on the nose. Big and bold palate entry and then it all tightens up to something exciting and nervy on the finish. Good wine! Very salivatory. (JR)
Checking in as a mix of 52% Sauvignon Blanc and 48% Semillon, the lightly hued 2019 La Clarte De Haut-Brion Blanc offers a great bouquet of white citrus, white flowers, honeyed grapefruit, and a touch of chalky minerality. Beautiful on the palate as well, it has medium-bodied richness, nicely integrated acidity, and just a pure, vibrant, focused style that still brings good depth of fruit. It should have 15 years of prime drinking.
With aromas of confit citrus fruit, peaches, grapefruit and pastry cream, the 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a satiny attack that segues into an ample core of fruit underpinned by lively acids and chalky structure. A combined second wine for both Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, this has turned out nicely in bottle, delivering a wine that's richer and headier in style than its 2018 predecessor.
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.