Appellations

Clarence Haut Brion (2nd wine of Haut Brion) 2020

Pessac-Leognan, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

Concentrated spice notes, seductive texture of slate and satin, with aromatics of incense, rosemary, cut herbs. These are big tannins that are fully ripe, cradling the blackberry fruit and christmas pudding spice. A serious wine but one with a smile on its face.

Score: 93 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2026-2040 Date: 15 February 2023

Concentrated, with impact and punch. It has presence and barely takes a beat through the mid palate, as there is such a wall of blackberry and bilberry fruits. A brambly hedgerow feel, hard to argue with - but be aware that there is heat also; and this is a hedonistic wine. Harvest from 7th to 29th September.

Score: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2023 - 2036 Date: 18 May 2021

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is quite flamboyant on the nose with black plum, boysenberry and sous-bois scents, just a touch of pitted black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy, with more weight and amplitude compared to the La Chapelle and with a lovely savory/Provençal herb tincture towards the finish. This is a lovely Deuxième Vin.

Score: 91 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2040 Date: 08 February 2023

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a succulent bouquet of dark cherries, boysenberry and crushed violet scents, quite heady and bold for a second wine (even the second wine of a First Growth!). The palate is medium-bodied with succulent, pliant tannins that frame the pure black cherry, wild strawberry and black currant fruit. Veins of licorice appear toward the finish. There is a lot of density in this Le Clarence and a little more structure than usual, and it suits it well.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024 - 2040 Date: 27 May 2021

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a succulent bouquet of dark cherries, boysenberry and crushed violet scents, quite heady and bold for a second wine (even the second wine of a First Growth!). The palate is medium-bodied with succulent, pliant tannins that frame the pure black cherry, wild strawberry and black currant fruit. Veins of licorice appear toward the finish. There is a lot of density in this Le Clarence and a little more structure than usual, and it suits it well.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2040 Date: 01 May 2021

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a jewel of a wine. Deep, powerful and structured, it captures all of the gravitas of the Grand Vin, but in a more accessible style. Gravel, leather, tobacco, cedar and dried herbs lend quite a bit of aromatic nuance to this powerhouse Pessac-Léognan. I very much like the intensity and drive here.

Score: 91 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025 - 2035 Date: 03 June 2021

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a jewel of a wine. Deep, powerful and structured, it captures all of the gravitas of the Grand Vin, but in a more accessible style. Gravel, leather, tobacco, cedar and dried herbs lend quite a bit of aromatic nuance to this powerhouse Pessac-Léognan. I very much like the intensity and drive here.

Score: 91 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2035 Date: 01 June 2021

The second wine of Château Haut-Brion, the 2020 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion is certainly a gem and well worth seeking out. Offering loads of red cherry and currant-like fruit, this medium to full-bodied, concentrated beauty has lots of graphite, fresh stone, and tobacco aromatics, beautiful mid-palate depth, outstanding length, and ripe, polished tannins. It has everything you look for from this region, all in a character-filled, up-front, undeniably delicious style that should evolve gracefully for over two decades.

Score: 92 - 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 25 May 2021

A blend of 60.1% Merlot, 31.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot, harvested from the 7th to the 29th of September, the 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has an estimated alcohol of 15.2%. Deep purple-black in color, it bursts from the glass with notions of baked black cherries, blackberry pie and plum preserves, leading to hints of ripe redcurrants, spice cake and smoked meats, plus a touch of hoisin. The big, rich, full-bodied palate is a full-on decadent mouthful, featuring lovely freshness to lift all that rich black fruit and a velvety texture, finishing long and spicy. A beautiful behemoth that is going to wow the hedonists!

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024 - 2040 Date: 23 May 2021

Full, distinctive, embossed bottle 1,305 g. Cask sample taken 12 April. 60.1% Merlot, 31.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot. Estimated alcohol: 15.2%. Picked from 7 to 29 September Mid purplish crimson. Rather simple, or at least uncommunicative, on the nose at present, though there is a beguiling combination of ripe fruit and stoniness (warm bricks?) on the palate which has impressive concentration. Comparing it with other celebrated Pessac-Léognans of the same vintage, it is clear that this has some magic dust – as it should considering how much more expensive it is. Lots of leathery tannin underneath but it is the integrity of the fruit that is so impressive.

Score: 17+ Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Date: 08 May 2021

Very plush and tannic with full body and lots of structure and intensity. Top second wine. Very solid and quite muscular with fine tannins and texture.p

Score: 96 - 97 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 06 May 2021