2020 Haut-Brion La Clarte de Haut-Brion
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Tasting notes
I have almost run out of friends to recommend this wine to. Such a well judged dry white, with just the right amount of juicy acidity to keep things motoring through the palate, with waves of preserved lemons and white peach, sage and salted cracker. A great vintage for dry whites also, warm but not excessive, giving structure and impact. 30% new oak. Jean-Philippe Delmas estate director, Jean-Philippe Masclef technical director.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Grassy, sweaty. A bit sweaty on the palate, the acidity slightly harsh in conjunction with the oak, and not very intense on the finish. (JH)
The 2020 La Clarté de Haut-Brion has an attractive nose, with yellow fruit and touches of wet pavement developing in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a dab of ginger on the entry, quite tensile and spicy toward the finish. It just lacks a bit of persistence on the aftertaste. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
The 2020 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is showing nicely in bottle, bursting with notions of grapefruit, nectarine, lemongrass and pastry cream. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a sweet core of fruit and a chalky finish, it will offer demonstrative drinking young.
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.