2022 Le Clarence de Haut Brion
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Tasting notes
The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion offers more red fruit on the nose than La Mission Haut-Brion, black olive tinged, gravelly black fruit, unmistakably Pessac in style. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery tannins, Earl Grey tinged black fruit and a slightly fleshier finish that has more persistence. Fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
More introverted and shy than during the en primeur tastings, the 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion offers up aromas of dark berries and spices mingled with pencil lead notes. Medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it's framed by structured, youthful tannins and a long, penetrating finish. Give it time to digest its élevage.
Compared to the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, the 2022 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion brings a darker core of cherry and currant fruits as well as smoky, leather, and scorched earth-like aromatics. It's slightly more concentrated and has a more focused, structured style on the palate, yet it's incredibly well balanced, pure, precise, and elegant. It's a mini Haut-Brion that has tons of Grand Vin character.
The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a little high-toned and more opulent than the La Chapelle Mission Haut-Brion, developing more blueberry fruit and delineation as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, slightly candied entry. This is a generous La Clarence that just tapers in a little toward the finish. Therefore, afford this a couple of years in bottle.
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Brion is the only classified growth in Pessac-Léognan. One of the five First Growths, it is renowned for producing both exceptional reds and whites. Along with its sister estate, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, it is part of the Clarence Dillon stable.