Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan 2019

This has fascinating, smoky, bark, dried-meat and crushed-berry character. It’s full-bodied with crushed stone, tobacco and dried meat. Extremely long and flavorful.

Heady red cherries on the nose, deep and seductive. Great energy here, this is pulsing with life, good roundness but also a cooling element - touches of chewy blue fruits, mint, graphite, pencil lead and minerality all of which give texture and nuance. Round and plump in texture and mouthfeel but really well defined and linear with straight talking fruit. Great drive to a crystalline finish. Gorgeous. A blend of 72.8% Merlot, 16.3% Cabernet Franc and 10.9% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2019 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion shows classic Pessac elegance in its beautiful bouquet of pure cassis and darker currant fruits as well as smoked tobacco, scorched earth, violets, and truffly earth. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated second wine that has notable structure, plenty of incredibly fine-grained tannins, and a great finish. It unquestionably shows classic Haut-Brion character and is a classy, balanced, elegant Pessac to drink over the coming 15-20 years.

Seductive smoked tobacco leaf on the nose, with an immediate unrolling of liquorice, slate, brambled blackberry and loganberry fruits. Get a slight trace of heat but this is charming and utterly moreish, with a concentration and depth that reflects the house signature and the promise of more to come. Clear ageing potential. Harvest September 10 to October 3.

The 2019 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Dark and brooding, Le Clarence is marked by its brooding intensity and youthful reticence. It is far from an easygoing second wine. Black cherry, graphite, incense, spice, leather and game emerge, but only over time. This is impressive, but it needs cellaring.

The 2019 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a blend of 72.8% Merlot, 16.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10.9% Cabernet Franc, harvested from the 10th of September to the 3rd of October. The estimated label alcohol degree is 15%. With a deep garnet-purple color, it springs from the glass with vivacious notes of crushed black and red plums, redcurrant jelly and wild blueberries plus suggestions of forest floor, lilacs, black olives and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate practically quivers with energy, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a lingering aniseed note. Simply delicious!

The 2019 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a slightly subdued nose compared to its peers and needs coaxing from the glass. Earthy red fruit, and touches of tobacco. The palate is well balanced with pliant tannins, crisp red fruit mixed with balsamic and white peppers, just a tad short on the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.