Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2017

Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is the second wine produced by Château Haut-Brion, one of the five classified First Growths in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855. As part of the portfolio of Domaine Clarence Dillon, which includes the renowned Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, and Château Quintus, the wine is also crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality as its grand vin counterpart. 

Having carried the name Château Bahans Haut-Brion at the beginning of the twentieth century, the wine was eventually renamed Le Clarence de Haut-Brion beginning with the 2007 vintage as a tribute to Clarence Dillon, who acquired the Haut-Brion property in 1935. Clarence Dillon is an American banker whose descendants continue to oversee the operation of the wine to this day. According to history, Clarence visited Château Haut-Brion during a trip to France in 1934. On his way back to the United States, he received a telegram informing him that he could purchase Haut-Brion as long as he acted fast. He did just that. The purchase was finalized on May 13th, 1935 and thus began the modern history of Haut-Brion. The Dillon family adores France and its way of life. From 1935 to the present day, no other vineyard has been linked to an American family for as long as Haut-Brion.

The vineyards stretch across an area of 51 hectares, 48 of which are planted with red grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. About 3 hectares are devoted to white grape varieties such as Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Gris. The vineyards of Château Haut-Brion, and by extension Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, are blessed with a diverse array of soil types. The gravel at Château Haut-Brion, which consists of small stones of various types of quartz, is a key element that contributes to the soil’s valuable wine-making potential. The gravelly soils additionally lie upon a unique subsoil of clay, sand, limestone and shelly sand.

The 2017 vintage of Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has been described as exhibiting a bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, such as blackcurrant, raspberry, and plum, intertwined with subtle notes of cedar, tobacco, and graphite. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a supple texture. Layers of flavors unfold, revealing hints of dark chocolate, licorice, and spices, balanced by fresh acidity and a long, persistent finish. While Le 

Clarence de Haut-Brion 2017 is definitely enjoyable in its youth, its structured tannins and balanced acidity suggest significant aging potential. It is expected to evolve gracefully over the next 10-15 years, developing greater complexity and nuance with time in the bottle. Cellaring the wine will allow its flavors to integrate further, revealing additional layers of aromas and contributing to a more harmonious and refined drinking experience as time passes.

"A blend of 55% Merlot, 5.3% Cabernet Franc, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.7% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is deep garnet-purple in color and starts off with youthful notions of cedar chest and crushed blackcurrants, giving way to a core of raspberry pie, kirsch, black cherry compote and unsmoked cigars with a touch of crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating red and black fruits with a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a lingering earthy note." Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, Ratings: 92 Drink: 2020-2037

''The 2017 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion has plenty of classic Haut Brion green tobacco and cedar notes as well as medium body, a juicy, elegant, medium-bodied mouthfeel, and a bright spine of acidity. It shows the more seamless, streamlined style of the vintage yet is beautifully balanced, has fine tannins, and outstanding length. Given its bright acidity, I suspect a solid 4-5 years of bottle age are warranted here.'' Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2022 En Primeur (2/26/2020) Ratings: 90+