2019 Haut-Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion
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Tasting notes
The 2019 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a slightly subdued nose compared to its peers and needs coaxing from the glass. Earthy red fruit, and touches of tobacco. The palate is well balanced with pliant tannins, crisp red fruit mixed with balsamic and white peppers, just a tad short on the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Not the most concentrated colour. Rich and racy with lots of fruitcake notes. Dry tannins and still lots of oak, but lots of fruit to compensate. Long. (JR)
The 2019 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion shows classic Pessac elegance in its beautiful bouquet of pure cassis and darker currant fruits as well as smoked tobacco, scorched earth, violets, and truffly earth. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated second wine that has notable structure, plenty of incredibly fine-grained tannins, and a great finish. It unquestionably shows classic Haut-Brion character and is a classy, balanced, elegant Pessac to drink over the coming 15-20 years.
Aromas of rich, plummy fruit, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and toasty oak preface the 2019 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, a medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy wine with fine depth at the core, succulent acids and powdery tannins. Ample and enveloping, it's more demonstrative than its counterpart, La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion from across the street.
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.