Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2009

Château Haut-Brion is the oldest and by far the smallest of the First Growth "Premiers Grands Crus" vineyards of the Bordeaux 1855 classification. Château Haut-Brion is one of the few remaining family-owned domains of the Bordeaux region with a history going back to the 16th century and one of the favorites at Buckingham palace. It has been owned by the American Dillon family since 1935. Thanks to its long history as one of Bordeaux's most prestigious wines, the estate has left its mark on the region for centuries.

The vineyard covers an area of 51 hectares. Slightly more than 48 hectares are planted with red grape varieties. The terrain at Haut-Brion, formed of two large mounds of a type of gravel known as Gunzian because it was deposited during the earliest geologic stage of the Pleistocene epoch, rises between 40 and 50 feet above the beds of the neighboring streams. This gravel consists of small stones, including various kinds of quartz, and it is these precious gems that help to give Château Haut-Brion's wines their distinctive character. Le Clarence is the Chateaux’s second wine, although it is hard to describe this wine as a second, especially from 2009

Tasting Notes

This wine is a deep purplish-red in the glass, with brilliant highlights. Initially slightly reserved on the nose, it develops a fascinating complexity on aeration. Fresh red-berry fruit is accented by hints of warmer aromas, such as cocoa. The initial impression is very soft and soothing on the palate, but the tannic structure gradually affirms its presence, combining firmness with great finesse. This wine confirms the assessment from recent vintages that Le Chance de Haut-Brion can certainly be considered a great wine, especially in this great 2009 vintage – ready to drink now!

Country: Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux - France