Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2015

Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is the second wine produced by Château Haut-Brion, one of the five classified First Growths in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855. As part of the portfolio of Domaine Clarence Dillon, which includes the renowned Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, and Château Quintus, the wine is also crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality as its grand vin counterpart. 

Having carried the name Château Bahans Haut-Brion at the beginning of the twentieth century, the wine was eventually renamed Le Clarence de Haut-Brion beginning with the 2007 vintage as a tribute to Clarence Dillon, who acquired the Haut-Brion property in 1935. Clarence Dillon is an American banker whose descendants continue to oversee the operation of the wine to this day. According to history, Clarence visited Château Haut-Brion during a trip to France in 1934. On his way back to the United States, he received a telegram informing him that he could purchase Haut-Brion as long as he acted fast. He did just that. The purchase was finalized on May 13th, 1935 and thus began the modern history of Haut-Brion. The Dillon family adores France and its way of life. From 1935 to the present day, no other vineyard has been linked to an American family for as long as Haut-Brion.

The vineyards stretch across an area of 51 hectares, 48 of which are planted with red grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. About 3 hectares are devoted to white grape varieties such as Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Gris. The vineyards of Château Haut-Brion, and by extension Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, are blessed with a diverse array of soil types. The gravel at Château Haut-Brion, which consists of small stones of various types of quartz, is a key element that contributes to the soil’s valuable wine-making potential. The gravelly soils additionally lie upon a unique subsoil of clay, sand, limestone and shelly sand.

The 2017 vintage of Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has been described as exhibiting a bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, such as blackcurrant, raspberry, and plum, intertwined with subtle notes of cedar, tobacco, and graphite. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a supple texture. Layers of flavors unfold, revealing hints of dark chocolate, licorice, and spices, balanced by fresh acidity and a long, persistent finish. While Le 

Clarence de Haut-Brion 2017 is definitely enjoyable in its youth, its structured tannins and balanced acidity suggest significant aging potential. It is expected to evolve gracefully over the next 10-15 years, developing greater complexity and nuance with time in the bottle. Cellaring the wine will allow its flavors to integrate further, revealing additional layers of aromas and contributing to a more harmonious and refined drinking experience as time passes.

''This is a seriously impressive vintage for this second label of Chateau Haut-Brion. Blended of 57% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion displays a medium to deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of crushed black cherries, blackberries, warm plums, dusty soil and spice cake with touches of dried roses and cigar boxes. Medium to full-bodied with wonderful concentration and depth, it features firm, beautifully rounded tannins and lively acid, finishing long and earthy.'' Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (02/21/2018) Ratings: 93+ Drink: 2020-2039

"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." - Neal Martin, TheWine Advocate, Ratings: 91-93, Drink: 2020-2040

''Leading off the reds, the 2015 Le Clarence de Haut Brion is the second wine of the estate and is 57% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Like its big brother, it has a classic, straight profile, medium-bodied richness, and textbook Graves notes of tobacco leaf, cedary spice, currants, and plums. Balanced, nicely concentrated, and with fine tannin, it will be better in a few years and keep for a decade or more.'' Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2022 En Primeur (11/30/2017) Ratings: 91 Drink: 2018-2028