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Clarence Haut Brion (2nd wine of Haut Brion) 2008

Pessac-Leognan, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. I was quite blown away by the 'Clarence de Haut-Brion'. It has a classy, much more reserved, undergrowth-tinged bouquet with beautifully defined tertiary fruit. The palate is full-bodied with sinewy tannins. Forceful, powerful, masculine but it maintains balance and freshness from start to finish. Wow. This rips up all my previous expectations!

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 May 2012

A blend of 45% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc. This is rather closed on the nose, a little dusty perhaps, with dark boysenberry fruit, a hint of wild hedgerow. The palate is austere on the entry with dusty tannins, very masculine and dry, foursquare. Unyielding at the moment.

Score: 83 - 85

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 April 2009

The super 2008 (45% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc) exhibits soft, ripe tannins as well as copious black cherry and loamy soil notes intermixed with notions of smoke and roasted herbs. It is a beautifully pure, deep, already delicious and complex wine that should drink nicely for 10-12 years.

Score: 91

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2011-2023 03 May 2011

The second wine, the 2008 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, offers sweet, pure, black cherry and black currant fruit, a distinctive underlying minerality/earthy component, medium body, and a rich, flavorful personality. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and consume it over the following 15.

Score: 89 - 91

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2011-2026 30 April 2009

45% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc. New name for the second wine. Very deep purplish crimson. Sweet and scented and then pretty light and polished. Lots more Cabernet in evidence than in the Chapelle de la Mission tasted alongside. And drier. Sleek but a little bit of a hole in the middle. Something not fully ripe about the finish.

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2020 10 May 2009

Wonderful sweet tobacco and berry aromas follow through to a full body, with big, juicy tannins and a chewy finish. A little tough, but shows concentration for a second wine.

Score: 88 - 91

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009