Appellations

Clarence Haut Brion (2nd wine of Haut Brion) 2015

Pessac-Leognan, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

57% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. Weighty black fruits and tobacco. Fresh and structured with more red fruits on the palate and savoury notes. More power and silkiness than La Chapelle.

Score: 92 - 94 Albany Vintners, - Date: 27 April 2016

Racy and refined second wine with polished and pretty tannins. Full body. Pretty.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 01 April 2016

A huge, ample wine, the 2015 La Clarence de Haut-Brion will give readers a very good idea of what the vintage is all about at the château. The flavors are dark and boldly sketched throughout. Violet, lavender, mint, spice, gravel and earthiness all add to the wine's distinctly masculine, brooding personality. Far from an easygoing second wine, the 2015 Clarence has the pedigree to drink well for a number of years, but it also needs time in bottle to come together fully.

Score: 90 - 92 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2016

The 2015 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a blend of 57% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 8 September and 5 October. Compared directly with the La Chapelle Mission Haut-Brion, I find that this does not quite possess the same delineation at the moment. This is broodier and more introspective in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, layers of dark berry fruit tinged with tobacco and cedar, gaining weight towards the finish that fans out with a sense of conviction. This should turn out to be an authoritative deuxième vin that will probably be consumed in its youth, but clearly possesses the substance to repay ageing. Those with wise heads will afford it 5-6 years in bottle.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2040 Date: 01 April 2016

57% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. Picked from 8 September to 5 October. Early picking because of stress. Some obvious Cabernet Sauvignon on the nose. Sweetness on the front palate and then marked fine tannins. Not nearly knit. Very inky finish. Not a charmer at the moment! Dried-grape impression on the end. But there's a little more grace than in the Chapelle de La Mission.

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2034 Date: 01 April 2016