Clarence Haut Brion (2nd wine of Haut Brion) 2009

Pessac-Leognan, Second wine

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Tasting Notes
The 2009 Clarence de Haut-Brion has a refined and elegant bouquet with pure red fruit, undergrowth, clove and leather, perhaps just a little brettanomyces becoming more obvious with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, rounded in texture with truffle and leather infused red fruit. There is fine grip on the finish and it should continue to age extremely well in bottle. Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2038 01 March 2019
Tasted at the chateau. The erstwhile Bahans, this has a touch more depth and breadth on the aromatics compared to the La Chapelle de al Mission, blackberry, graphite, hints of cassis and mint. Nice definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, notes of blackberry, graphite, a touch of tobacco leaf, a sprinkle of black pepper, leading to a masculine, quite tannic entry that grips the mouth. Very fine, but it will need more time than most Bahans of the past. Tasted April 2010. Score: 88 - 90 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 March 2010
The second wine, the 2009 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, is almost as large a cuvee as the grand vin. This 7,000-case cuvee is a blend of 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small quantities of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Once again the burning ember/scorched earth characteristic that often comes from Haut-Brion is found in the second wine, along with more kirsch and cassis, fewer nuances and less complexity than its bigger sibling. The wine is full-bodied with the minerality offered by this terroir as well as plenty of sweet tannins. This is the finest second wine Haut-Brion has produced since the astonishing 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion. Enjoy it over the next two decades. Score: 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2012
The second wine, which used to be called Bahans Haut-Brion, is now Le Clarence Haut-Brion. The 2009 is a 7,000-case cuvee made of 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and a tiny dosage of Petit Verdot. The wine has a fabulous nose of incense, burning embers, forest floor, and black cherry liqueur. Fleshy, rich, full-bodied, but not over the top as the minerality and structure move in, this is a super-duper effort, and the greatest second wine made at Haut-Brion since the 1989 Bahans Haut-Brion. It should drink well for 20-25 years. (Tasted once.) Score: 90 - 93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-35 01 April 2010
This is very, very Haut-Brion. Perhaps this second wine is like the gran vin in 1995? Full body, with rich ripe tannins, with a silky texture. It is dense and powerful. Long and rich. Better in 2016. Best second wine of Haut-Brion ever? It has just about everything Haut-Brion has in an excellent year like this. Try in 2019. Score: 95 James Suckling, - Maturity: 2019+ 15 February 2012
Violets and berries on the nose, with just a whiff of cream and vanilla. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and gorgeous fruit. Caressing, silky finish. The renamed second wine of Haut-Brion (used to be Bahans). —J.S. Score: 90 - 93 James Suckling, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 31 March 2010
The renamed second wine of Haut-Brion that was once called Bahans. Deeper, less blue colour than the Chapelle de La Mission. Very subtle nose that pulls you in but doesn't broadcast much. Pretty firm tannins. Really quite severe at this point. Very different from the buxom norm of this vintage. Very dense indeed. This will need a long, long time. Pretty ambitious....17+ points Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2032 07 April 2010
The second wine of Haut Brion was named Bahans Haut-Brion until the 2007 vintage onwards, when it was rechristened Clarence de Haut-Brion, in honour of Clarence Dillon. 46M, 29CS 13CS 2 PV, representing 39% of production. Open and generous on the nose with pronounced aromas of berries and slate. Clean and smooth with focussed ripe cherry fruit. More mineral and structured than La Chapelle. Very ripe with elegant fruit and lively acidity. Very good Score: 90 - 92 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2010

Tasting Notes

The 2009 Clarence de Haut-Brion has a refined and elegant bouquet with pure red fruit, undergrowth, clove and leather, perhaps just a little brettanomyces becoming more obvious with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, rounded in texture with truffle and leather infused red fruit. There is fine grip on the finish and it should continue to age extremely well in bottle.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2038 01 March 2019

Tasted at the chateau. The erstwhile Bahans, this has a touch more depth and breadth on the aromatics compared to the La Chapelle de al Mission, blackberry, graphite, hints of cassis and mint. Nice definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, notes of blackberry, graphite, a touch of tobacco leaf, a sprinkle of black pepper, leading to a masculine, quite tannic entry that grips the mouth. Very fine, but it will need more time than most Bahans of the past. Tasted April 2010.

Score: 88 - 90

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 March 2010

The second wine, the 2009 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, is almost as large a cuvee as the grand vin. This 7,000-case cuvee is a blend of 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small quantities of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Once again the burning ember/scorched earth characteristic that often comes from Haut-Brion is found in the second wine, along with more kirsch and cassis, fewer nuances and less complexity than its bigger sibling. The wine is full-bodied with the minerality offered by this terroir as well as plenty of sweet tannins. This is the finest second wine Haut-Brion has produced since the astonishing 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion. Enjoy it over the next two decades.

Score: 92

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2012

The second wine, which used to be called Bahans Haut-Brion, is now Le Clarence Haut-Brion. The 2009 is a 7,000-case cuvee made of 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and a tiny dosage of Petit Verdot. The wine has a fabulous nose of incense, burning embers, forest floor, and black cherry liqueur. Fleshy, rich, full-bodied, but not over the top as the minerality and structure move in, this is a super-duper effort, and the greatest second wine made at Haut-Brion since the 1989 Bahans Haut-Brion. It should drink well for 20-25 years. (Tasted once.)

Score: 90 - 93

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-35 01 April 2010

This is very, very Haut-Brion. Perhaps this second wine is like the gran vin in 1995? Full body, with rich ripe tannins, with a silky texture. It is dense and powerful. Long and rich. Better in 2016. Best second wine of Haut-Brion ever? It has just about everything Haut-Brion has in an excellent year like this. Try in 2019.

Score: 95

James Suckling, - Maturity: 2019+ 15 February 2012

Violets and berries on the nose, with just a whiff of cream and vanilla. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and gorgeous fruit. Caressing, silky finish. The renamed second wine of Haut-Brion (used to be Bahans). —J.S.

Score: 90 - 93

James Suckling, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 31 March 2010

The renamed second wine of Haut-Brion that was once called Bahans. Deeper, less blue colour than the Chapelle de La Mission. Very subtle nose that pulls you in but doesn't broadcast much. Pretty firm tannins. Really quite severe at this point. Very different from the buxom norm of this vintage. Very dense indeed. This will need a long, long time. Pretty ambitious....17+ points

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2032 07 April 2010

The second wine of Haut Brion was named Bahans Haut-Brion until the 2007 vintage onwards, when it was rechristened Clarence de Haut-Brion, in honour of Clarence Dillon. 46M, 29CS 13CS 2 PV, representing 39% of production. Open and generous on the nose with pronounced aromas of berries and slate. Clean and smooth with focussed ripe cherry fruit. More mineral and structured than La Chapelle. Very ripe with elegant fruit and lively acidity. Very good

Score: 90 - 92

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2010

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