2019 Château Haut Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion

2019 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is the distinguished second wine of Château Haut-Brion, crafted with the same meticulous care and precision as this legendary First Growth. Elegant, refined and immediately appealing, it channels the signature charm of Haut-Brion in a slightly more approachable, earlier-drinking style. Named in tribute to American banker Clarence Dillon, who purchased the estate in 1935, this cuvée bridges grand-cru pedigree with remarkable drinkability.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion shows a deep garnet-purple hue with vivid intensity at the rim, hinting at both richness and youth. The nose is serious and layered: earthy tones of tilled soil, truffle, underbrush and crushed rocks unfold first, followed by notes of warm chocolate pastry, kirsch, redcurrants and blackcurrants, with a graphite and pencil-shaving edge that is classically Graves. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet wonderfully poised, with an energetic, fresh core that carries layers of red and black fruit. Ripe cherries, cassis and redcurrants are wrapped in a soft, rounded texture, supported by fine-grained tannins and a precise line of acidity. Subtle notes of cocoa, baking spice and a lively minty lift appear on the long, refined finish. Accessible in its youth thanks to its Merlot component, this 2019 will nonetheless reward patience, evolving gracefully over 10–15 years and potentially longer in ideal cellaring conditions.

Production
Sourced from the gravelly, well-drained terraces of Pessac-Léognan on the outskirts of Bordeaux, Le Clarence de Haut-Brion reflects the same exceptional terroir as the grand vin: deep gravel mixed with sand and clay over a mineral-rich subsoil, ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The 2019 blend is approximately 49% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and a small proportion of Cabernet Franc, a more classic, Cabernet-driven profile for Clarence. Harvesting is carried out by hand, parcel by parcel, with rigorous sorting of the grapes. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and/or concrete vats, followed by maturation in French oak barriques (a significant proportion new), where the wine develops its complexity, texture and hallmark Haut-Brion finesse before blending and bottling.

Food & Serving
Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2019 is a versatile food wine that shines alongside classic French and refined, savory dishes. Think roast lamb with herbs, beef tenderloin, duck breast, veal chops, or game birds, as well as truffle risotto, mushroom dishes and aged hard cheeses. Serve at 16–18°C (60–65°F) to showcase its aromatic complexity and silky structure. Decanting for 1–2 hours in its youth is recommended to soften the tannins and allow the earthy, mineral and mint-inflected notes to fully unfold; as the wine matures, a shorter decant simply to remove sediment will suffice.

Producer
Château Haut-Brion is one of Bordeaux’s most storied estates and the only property from Graves included among the original 1855 First Growths. Wine has been made here since at least the 16th–17th century, and Haut-Brion is often credited as the first true single-estate Bordeaux to achieve international fame, notably in London’s coffee houses and in the writings of early wine commentators. In 1935, the château was purchased by American banker Clarence Dillon, whose family invested heavily in modernizing the chai and vineyards, later pioneering the use of stainless-steel tanks among premier crus in 1960 and acquiring the neighboring Château La Mission Haut-Brion in 1983. Today, under the stewardship of his descendant Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Haut-Brion stands as a benchmark for Pessac-Léognan, renowned for its ageworthy, hauntingly complex reds and its precision in uniting history, innovation and terroir expression. Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, formerly known as Bahans Haut-Brion, upholds this legacy as a second wine that rivals many estates’ grands vins.

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