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Clarence Haut Brion 2020

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Sauvignon

The second wine of Château Haut Brion is assembled from the vats that don't suit the final blend of Haut Brion itself. From 2007 onwards it has been known as Le Clarence de Haut-Brion (instead of Bahans Haut Brion), in tribute to Clarence Dillon who purchased Haut Brion in 1934. It is now also bottled in the iconic and distinctive Haut Brion bottle.

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Label

Tasting Notes

Aromas of blackcurrants and blueberries. Lots of stones, too. Full-bodied and chewy with plenty of crushed cement. Chewy finish. Medium at the end. Drink after 2027.

96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2023

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion exhibits attractive aromas of dark berries, rose petals, cigar wrapper and burning embers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered palate that's rich, seamless and enveloping, with an open, expressive profile and a long, subtly kirsch-inflected finish. 2025 - 2045

92
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2023

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion offers up classic scents of juicy plums and cassis with nuances of pencil shavings, crushed rocks, and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is finely crafted, with tight-knit black fruits and earthy accents bound within, and a firm, grainy texture and compelling freshness, finishing long and earthy.

93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, March 2023

Concentrated spice notes, seductive texture of slate and satin, with aromatics of incense, rosemary, cut herbs. These are big tannins that are fully ripe, cradling the blackberry fruit and christmas pudding spice. A serious wine but one with a smile on its face.

93
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, February 2023

Full, distinctive, embossed bottle 1,305 g. Cask sample taken 12 April. 60.1% Merlot, 31.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot. Estimated alcohol: 15.2%. Picked from 7 to 29 September
Mid purplish crimson. Rather simple, or at least uncommunicative, on the nose at present, though there is a beguiling combination of ripe fruit and stoniness (warm bricks?) on the palate which has impressive concentration. Comparing it with other celebrated Pessac-Léognans of the same vintage, it is clear that this has some magic dust – as it should considering how much more expensive it is. Lots of leathery tannin underneath but it is the integrity of the fruit that is so impressive.
Drink 2029 – 2048

17+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2021

(60% M, 32% CS, 8% CF; 15.2% ABV)
Ripe blackberry Merlot to smell; full, moderately concentrated, firmly but finely tannic; a refined and relatively delicate core of fruit here, sweet and fresh, with the alcohol presence distracting a bit from its finesse, but behind that, this is long and graceful, with excellent sweet fruit persistence. The somewhat “dryhard” tannin texture distracts a bit, which it would not do at 13.5% ABV, for example. A refined, freshly sweet, graceful wine, successful in the style, if not so obviously Pessac-Léognan in origin any more. 2028–38+.

92/93
Michael Schuster, The World of Fine Wine, May 2021
Read more tasting notes...

Exotic fruit aromas of blackberry, blueberry, peach and orange peel. It’s full-bodied with a vertical flow of layered, chewy tannins that are integrated and intense. Extremely polished and focused. Crushed stone to the fruit in the aftertaste. Some bark and forest flowers, too. Great potential.

97/98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2021

A blend of 60.1% Merlot, 31.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot, harvested from the 7th to the 29th of September, the 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has an estimated alcohol of 15.2%. Deep purple-black in color, it bursts from the glass with notions of baked black cherries, blackberry pie and plum preserves, leading to hints of ripe redcurrants, spice cake and smoked meats, plus a touch of hoisin. The big, rich, full-bodied palate is a full-on decadent mouthful, featuring lovely freshness to lift all that rich black fruit and a velvety texture, finishing long and spicy. A beautiful behemoth that is going to wow the hedonists! 2024 - 2040

91/93+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, May 2021

Concentrated spice notes, seductive texture of slate and satin, with aromatics of incense, rosemary, cut herbs. These are big tannins that are fully ripe, cradling the blackberry fruit and christmas pudding spice. A serious wine but one with a smile on its face.

93
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, February 2023

Concentrated, with impact and punch. It has presence and barely takes a beat through the mid palate, as there is such a wall of blackberry and bilberry fruits. A brambly hedgerow feel, hard to argue with - but be aware that there is heat also; and this is a hedonistic wine. Harvest from 7th to 29th September.

Drinking Window 2023 - 2036

92
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, May 2021
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.