2022 Château Haut Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion

2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is the distinguished second wine of the legendary Château Haut-Brion, offering a more approachable expression of this First Growth estate without sacrificing depth or character. Crafted from the same historic vineyards in the heart of Pessac-Léognan, it captures the signature smoky minerality and refined structure that have made Haut-Brion a benchmark in Bordeaux. The 2022 vintage is ripe, intense and beautifully polished, promising both early pleasure and impressive longevity.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion shows a deep, vibrant garnet-purple hue, hinting at its concentration and youthful energy. The nose opens with pure blackcurrant and ripe plum, followed by layers of graphite, crushed stones, cedar shavings and subtle cigar box, wrapped in notes of violets and a touch of warm spices. On the palate, this is a medium to full-bodied Bordeaux with a velvety, fine-grained tannic structure and a lively, balancing freshness. Dark berry fruits—cassis, black cherry and blackberry—are lifted by tobacco leaf, cocoa, pencil lead and a distinct gravelly minerality that is so typical of Haut-Brion. The finish is long and precise, tightening slightly with youthful tannins that promise positive development in bottle. While already appealing in its aromatics and texture, the wine will reward cellaring; optimal drinking is likely from 2027 and it should evolve gracefully for 10–20 years under proper storage.

Production
Le Clarence de Haut-Brion comes from the gravel-rich soils of Pessac-Léognan in Graves, where deep layers of rounded pebbles mixed with sand and clay provide excellent drainage and help achieve perfect ripeness while retaining freshness. The vineyards are planted mainly to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all farmed with meticulous attention to detail. Harvesting is carried out by hand, parcel by parcel, at optimal maturity, followed by rigorous sorting to ensure only the best berries are used. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled vats, allowing precise extraction of color, aroma and tannin, and the wine is then aged in French oak barriques—many of them new—for around 15–18 months, during which the components of the blend are patiently assembled to achieve the estate’s hallmark balance and elegance.

Food & Serving
This refined yet generous Bordeaux is a superb partner for classic dishes such as roast lamb with herbs, grilled or roasted beef, duck breast, venison or other game, as well as truffle-infused dishes and earthy mushroom preparations. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses like Comté, Cantal or a well-matured farmhouse cheddar. For best enjoyment, serve at 16–18°C (about 60–64°F). Younger bottles will benefit from 1–2 hours in a decanter to soften the tannins and open the bouquet; more mature bottles should be decanted gently just before serving to remove any sediment while preserving their delicate aromatics.

Producer
Château Haut-Brion is one of Bordeaux’s most storied estates, with written records dating back to the early 16th century and a reputation that helped define what we now think of as fine wine. As the only estate from Graves included in the historic 1855 Classification of Bordeaux, it holds the rare status of First Growth and remains a reference point for the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is the château’s second wine—formerly known as Bahans Haut-Brion and renamed in 2007 in honor of Clarence Dillon, whose family has overseen the estate since 1935. Today, Château Haut-Brion is celebrated worldwide for its combination of innovation and tradition, its pioneering work in vineyard management and cellar technique, and its consistently outstanding wines that sit among the greatest in Bordeaux.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.