Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2010

Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2010 — Pessac-Léognan

This Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2010 embodies a noble, profound and remarkably classical expression of Pessac-Léognan. As the second wine of the mythical Château Haut-Brion, it benefits from the same exacting selection and stylistic world as the Grand Vin, with a more approachable expression in youth while retaining genuine ageing potential. In the great 2010 vintage, the wine unfolds an intense palette: cassis, blackberry, black cherry, black plum, graphite, cedar, blond tobacco, cocoa, liquorice, fine spices, noble smoke, fine leather, warm earth, warm stone and a long mineral finish.

Le Clarence de Haut-Brion carries the deep identity of Château Haut-Brion: a rare alliance of structure, velvet, freshness, smoky complexity and great aromatic nobility. The 2010 vintage, one of Bordeaux’s great years for structure, concentration and precision, gives here a dense, distinguished wine still endowed with remarkable potential for evolution. It combines the depth of Pessac-Léognan gravel soils, the richness of black fruit and the lightly smoky, earthy and spicy signature that distinguishes the great wines of Haut-Brion.

Terroir: Pessac-Léognan, deep gravel and the smoky signature of Haut-Brion

The terroir of Pessac-Léognan rests on deep, perfectly draining gravel soils, combined depending on the plots with clay, sand and stony elements. These conditions allow Bordeaux grape varieties to express ripeness, freshness, structure and aromatic complexity. At Haut-Brion, this identity often translates into notes of noble smoke, graphite, tobacco, warm earth and black fruits of great depth.

Le Clarence de Haut-Brion takes up the estate’s great markers in a more supple and more immediately open expression than the Grand Vin, without losing the precision or nobility of the property. In 2010, the concentration of the vintage reinforces structure, depth and ageing potential, while the freshness of the gravel soils maintains balance, tension and length.

Tasting notes

Appearance: deep garnet with dark ruby reflections, dense, bright and still very sustained. The colour reflects the concentration of the 2010 vintage, the depth of fruit and a slow evolution towards more spicy, smoky and tertiary nuances.

Nose: profound, noble and highly expressive, with cassis, blackberry, black cherry, black plum, ripe black fruits, graphite, cedar, blond tobacco, liquorice and cocoa. With aeration, nuances of noble smoke, fine leather, warm earth, warm stone, fine spices, sweet pepper, delicate forest floor, light truffle and balsamic notes may appear.

Palate: broad, dense, velvety and solidly structured, with precise black fruit carried by ripe, fine and persistent tannins. Flavours of cassis, blackberry, black cherry, plum, cedar, graphite, tobacco, cocoa, liquorice, noble smoke, fine leather and warm earth unfold with depth and balance. The finish is long, fresh, mineral and lightly spicy, with an impression of controlled power, refinement and great Bordeaux nobility.

Expression of the 2010 vintage

The 2010 vintage in Bordeaux is considered one of the great vintages for structure, freshness and longevity. The best wines combine concentration, aromatic precision, powerful yet ripe tannins and remarkable balance. In Pessac-Léognan, this year produced profound, straight and highly complete wines, capable of long ageing while retaining great energy.

Today, this Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2010 remains very well equipped for evolution, yet can already offer fine complexity after measured aeration. With time, it will gain nuances of blond tobacco, fine leather, light truffle, forest floor, noble smoke, graphite, melted spices and warm earth, while preserving black-fruit depth and the mineral freshness of the terroir.