Le Clarence de Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 2019 - Second vin

An open, precise nose, spicy and smoky, with a beautiful texture, firm tannins, evident terroir nobility, and a price that’s almost affordable—all while offering a glimpse into the terroir’s inimitable character.

A rich nose of red cherries, deep and seductive. Full of energy—it’s vibrant with life, offering good roundness as well as freshness. Hints of soft blueberries, mint, graphite, pencil lead, and minerality add texture and nuance. Round and full-bodied in texture and mouthfeel, yet very well-defined and linear, with fruit that comes through clearly. Well-structured, leading to a crystalline finish. Magnificent.

 

Very charming and subtle, with great length and body.

“As the only estate outside the Médoc to have been included in the 1855 classification, Château Haut-Brion has a second distinctive feature: it is completely surrounded by the town. Its terroir is certainly the earliest-ripening in the appellation, and the grapes ripen perfectly here, producing a full-bodied, rich wine that, as it ages, develops inimitable smoky notes. After a brief period that seemed less impressive to us (2000–2005), the estate has just produced three outstanding vintages, including a 2009 that promises to be legendary and an even more aristocratic 2010.”

It’s beautiful, with pure aromas of blackcurrant and rose petals, as well as wet earth and black truffle, leading to a medium-bodied to full-bodied palate with ultra-fine tannins that coat the mouth and create a fantastic sensation. The complexity of the flavors is so satisfying on the finish. Try it after 2026.

A deep, intense, beautiful purple color. The nose is highly aromatic, refined, fruity, pure, and complex. The smoothness of this wine on the palate is remarkable. Moreover, it caresses the palate—juicy and velvety—with deep aromas, leading to a long, vibrant, and fragrant finish. It’s superb. After a fantastic 2018, this is my second-favorite Clarence vintage of recent years. The selection process has become more rigorous, with the elimination of a plot located in front of the university library.

The nose is elegant and refined, offering harmony as well as a certain controlled power. It features notes of juicy strawberry, blackberry, and, more subtly, vibrant red berries, combined with hints of violet and rose, as well as a discreet touch of fresh tobacco and a subtle hint of pepper. On the palate, it is fruity, balanced, and beautifully dynamic, offering elegance, delicacy, lovely definition, a tart and mineral structure, roundness, smoothness, beautiful finesse of texture, a delicate creaminess, and a touch of airiness in its approach and in the way it handles its richness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy, pulpy blackberry and juicy, pulpy raspberry, along with more subtle hints of fleshy strawberry, combined with touches of violet, crushed cherry, subtle hints of refined minerality, sweet blond tobacco, toasted almond, and a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. The tannins are precise and delicately velvety.