2009 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Red • Dry • Full Bodied • Merlot,Cabernet Sauvignon,Cabernet Franc,Petit Verdot
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Code: 20090600750008014317

Description

The second wine of Ch. Haut-Brion (renamed in 2007 from Bahans de Haut-Brion) shows the same seam of pure class in 2009 as the fantastic Grand Vin. Softer but riper with fabulous fruit, this has a beautiful seam of minerality which clearly denotes its roots in this fine terroir. The château consider it to be the greatest second wine at Haut-Brion since 1989, and with only 7,000 cases made of this little gem, it won't be around long.
  • Colour
    Red
  • Sweetness
    Dry
  • Vintage
    2009
  • Alcohol
    14%
  • Grape
    Merlot,Cabernet Sauvignon,Cabernet Franc,Petit Verdot
  • Body
    Full Bodied
  • Producer
    Château Haut-Brion

Critics reviews

James Suckling
90-93/100
Violets and berries on the nose, with just a whiff of cream and vanilla. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and gorgeous fruit. Caressing, silky finish. The renamed second wine of Haut-Brion used to be Bahans).
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
Jancis Robinson MW
17/20
The renamed second wine of Haut-Brion that was once called Bahans. Deeper, less blue colour than the Chapelle de La Mission. Very subtle nose that pulls you in but doesn't broadcast much. Pretty firm tannins. Really quite severe at this point. Very different from the buxom norm of this vintage. Very dense indeed. This will need a long, long time. Pretty ambitious...
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com
Robert Parker
92/100
The 2009 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is almost as large a cuvee as the grand vin. This 7,000-case cuvee is a blend of 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small quantities of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Once again the burning ember/scorched earth characteristic that often comes from Haut-Brion is found in the second wine, along with more kirsch and cassis, fewer nuances and less complexity than its bigger sibling. The wine is full-bodied with the minerality offered by this terroir as well as plenty of sweet tannins.

This is the finest second wine Haut-Brion has produced since the astonishing 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion. Enjoy it over the next two decades.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Robert Parker
92/100
The second wine, the 2009 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, is almost as large a cuvee as the grand vin. This 7,000-case cuvee is a blend of 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small quantities of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Once again the burning ember/scorched earth characteristic that often comes from Haut-Brion is found in the second wine, along with more kirsch and cassis, fewer nuances and less complexity than its bigger sibling. The wine is full-bodied with the minerality offered by this terroir as well as plenty of sweet tannins. This is the finest second wine Haut-Brion has produced since the astonishing 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion. Enjoy it over the next two decades.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (December 2011)

About The Wine

Merlot

The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.
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Pessac-Léognan

In 1986 a new communal district was created within Graves, based on the districts of Pessac and Léognan. Pessac-Léognan has the best soils of the region, very similar to those of the Médoc, although the depth of gravel is more variable, and contains all the classed growths of the region. Some of its great names, including Ch. Haut-Brion, even sit serenely and resolutely in Bordeaux's southern urban sprawl.
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Château Haut-Brion

Château Haut-Brion stands apart—not only as the sole estate outside the Médoc to be included in the 1855 Classification, but also as one of Bordeaux’s oldest and most storied vineyards. Its viticultural roots stretch back to the early 16th century, predating its First Growth peers. The estate’s reputation was already well established by the time Samuel Pepys famously praised its wine in his 1663 diary. Today, nestled in the urban sprawl of Pessac-Léognan, Haut-Brion continues to produce wines of extraordinary character and longevity, shaped by centuries of innovation and stewardship.
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