Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2022

Smoky, dark-fruited nose with a hint of lactic note in the background; juicy palate, remarkably crisp, the finest tannins support the fruit, a lively acidity keeps it fresh; herb-savoury finish with black cherry on the aftertaste. High level.

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.

Sweet, sun-kissed dark fruit on the nose, quite heady and expressive – blackcurrants, cherries and plums. Juicy, slightly chewy and creamy – there’s a nice weight to the tannins with a fleshy texture, and although there’s acidity, this is deeper and more brooding with dark black fruit, spiced liquorice, graphite and tobacco notes. There’s clarity and good persistence with a mint and clove aspect on the finish. The tannins have softened and broadened since the Primeurs, giving a nicely filling mouthful. 20% new oak.

Violets and dark berries with hints of wet earth and black truffles on the nose. Medium-bodied, this has focused tannins that tighten at the end. Blackcurrants and mushrooms with dried earth. Muscular for the second wine of Haut-Brion. Needs four or five years to soften and open. Best after 2029.

The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a fabulous second wine. Broad and explosive on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2022 is a total stunner. Dark-toned fruit, leather, spice, menthol and espresso are all dialed up to the maximum. Rich, ample and inviting, the Clarence is positively stellar. What a vivid and deeply satisfying wine it is. All this lacks is a bit of structure on the finish, but then again, this is 2022.

Cigar box, spice, burning herbs, black plums, and cherries create the nose. The wine is refined, silky, and fresh. The fruits are ripe, sweet, lifted, and have no problem expressing their essence on the mid-palate, and in the elegant finish, which delivers a plethora of spices and a touch of refreshing mint on the endnote. Enjoy this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 62% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc, and 1.5% Petit Verdot. 14.4% ABV, 3.9 pH. Drink 2025–2045. 93–95 pts.

Dark ruby colour, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the edge. Finely spiced, dark forest berry notes, a hint of cassis and cherries, hint of tobacco. Juicy, ripe cherries, lively structure, silky tannins, a hint of nougat, salty finish, already accessible, mineral, with good ageing potential. (25/1, +30).

Compared to 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.

62.1% Merlot, 21.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot. Playful red-berry bouquet, sour cherry juice, milk chocolate notes and tarragon. On the elegant palate with a soft texture, ripe fine-grained extract, tightly knit tannic frame and medium body. Focused finish with wild cherry, sloe jelly and dark minerality. A classic Clarence that needs time; rated for potential.

The fruit is darker than in La Mission, with tons of depth to the flavour, and it has really come into its own with ageing. Creamy cassis and blackberry, graphite – or rather a smudged crayon, because there’s a softness here – plump and enticing but with structure and clear ageability. Serious at first, then it lightens up. Great quality.

A reticent, almost enigmatic nose where dark red fruits mingle with hints of roses. On the palate, a silky caress carried by vibrant, radiant red fruit, a lingering acidity, and serious tannins on the finish. A solid second wine, built for ageing.

The bouquet of Clarence de Haut-Brion immediately highlights its finesse and subtlety. Very precise, it invites you to taste the wine and heralds excellent prospects. These are perfectly taken up by a linear, harmonious palate. The wine unfolds seamlessly, with concentration and vigor, while offering a refreshing structure. A high-flying Clarens that can be enjoyed young, yet also boasts excellent aging potential!

The nose is spicy, with a certain intensity and a fine, taut grain. It reveals notes of pulpy blackberry, fleshy strawberry, and, more subtly, bright little red berries, alongside hints of nutmeg and violet, with fine touches of lilac, dry gravel, and an almost thyme-like note that lends a discreet Mediterranean feel. The palate is beautifully guided—fresh, supple, airy, delicate—with a melodious flow. It shows notes of pulpy/juicy blackcurrant, concentrated black plum, and lighter rhubarb, joined by touches of fairly ripe red berries, a Mediterranean nuance, as well as hints of chocolate, toast, and a subtle touch of star anise and sweet spices. Good length. The tannins are plush and flavorful. A wine with a lovely, gourmand chew and both a graphite-like and crystalline edge.

Purple-red color with black highlights. Beautiful intense nose, delicate, fruity, pure, floral and subtle. Broad on the attack, broad through the mid-palate, with power and plenty of flavor; the wine unfolds long and deep, slightly tannic yet well covered. Blend: 61.2% Merlot, 21.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14.4% - pH: 3.9. IPT: 78.

93-95 Barrel sample. The wine's structure is impressive. The firm tannins at the heart of the wine are solid. The ripe black fruits wrap around these tannins. The wine has a fine potential.