Clarence de Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2020

Vinous

93,5

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a very finely delineated, concentrated and generous bouquet with layers of red and black fruit, pressed violets and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, very poised and pure, with an almost Burgundian allure toward the finish. This should age beautifully in bottle. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Wine Advocate

92

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion exhibits attractive aromas of dark berries, rose petals, cigar wrapper and burning embers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered palate that's rich, seamless and enveloping, with an open, expressive profile and a long, subtly kirsch-inflected finish.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

Leading off the reds, the 2020 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion is a darker, more structured version of this cuvée that has lots of ripe blackcurrant fruit, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, cedar, and lead pencil, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and a great finish. With its brilliant Graves character, this is a second wine that deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for two decades.

Vinous

91

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is quite flamboyant on the nose with black plum, boysenberry and sous-bois scents, just a touch of pitted black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy, with more weight and amplitude compared to the La Chapelle and with a lovely savory/Provençal herb tincture towards the finish. This is a lovely Deuxième Vin.

TASTED

92

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Classically elegant with ample dark fruit aromas, tobacco and fine oak. Good density and weight with grainy tannin, modest oak some aromatic herbal spiciness like sage and bay leaf adding freshness, discreet oak and fresh acidity and good length.

Vinous

91-93

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a jewel of a wine. Deep, powerful and structured, it captures all of the gravitas of the Grand Vin, but in a more accessible style. Gravel, leather, tobacco, cedar and dried herbs lend quite a bit of aromatic nuance to this powerhouse Pessac-Léognan. I very much like the intensity and drive here.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

The second wine of Château Haut-Brion, the 2020 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion is certainly a gem and well worth seeking out. Offering loads of red cherry and currant-like fruit, this medium to full-bodied, concentrated beauty has lots of graphite, fresh stone, and tobacco aromatics, beautiful mid-palate depth, outstanding length, and ripe, polished tannins. It has everything you look for from this region, all in a character-filled, up-front, undeniably delicious style that should evolve gracefully for over two decades.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a succulent bouquet of dark cherries, boysenberry and crushed violet scents, quite heady and bold for a second wine (even the second wine of a First Growth!). The palate is medium-bodied with succulent, pliant tannins that frame the pure black cherry, wild strawberry and black currant fruit. Veins of licorice appear toward the finish. There is a lot of density in this Le Clarence and a little more structure than usual, and it suits it well.

Decanter.com

92

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Concentrated, with impact and punch. It has presence and barely takes a beat through the mid palate, as there is such a wall of blackberry and bilberry fruits. A brambly hedgerow feel, hard to argue with - but be aware that there is heat also; and this is a hedonistic wine. Harvest from 7th to 29th September.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Forest leaf, cigar box, herbs, flowers, cherry pipe tobacco, forest scents and spice nuances start off the perfume. On the palate the wine is juicy, silky, fresh and vibrant with layers of fresh, sweet, vibrant, polished red fruits that linger. Elegance is the keyword here. This is probably the finest vintage of Le Clarence de Haut Brion ever produced. It is a great example of a baby Haut Brion. Enjoy this for the next 10-15 years while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 94-96

Wine Advocate

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

A blend of 60.1% Merlot, 31.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot, harvested from the 7th to the 29th of September, the 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has an estimated alcohol of 15.2%. Deep purple-black in color, it bursts from the glass with notions of baked black cherries, blackberry pie and plum preserves, leading to hints of ripe redcurrants, spice cake and smoked meats, plus a touch of hoisin. The big, rich, full-bodied palate is a full-on decadent mouthful, featuring lovely freshness to lift all that rich black fruit and a velvety texture, finishing long and spicy. A beautiful behemoth that is going to wow the hedonists!

Anthocyanes

92-94

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Avec des notes de mure, de cassis et de myrtille, le nez du Clarence de Haut-Brion est profond, dense, complexe avec une trame mentholée particulièrement délicate. Entrée de bouche juteuse puis charnue, une trame tannique en rapport avec le millésime et assez ferme, de l'allonge et une fraicheur délicate. Assez tannique, le milieu de bouche reste toutefois dédié aux fruits noirs. Pointe fumée en finale. Un peu sombre, dense et légèrement tannique. Pour les 10 à 15 ans à venir.

Bernard Burtschy

95-96

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

94-96

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Einlad- ende schwarze Herzkirschen, feine Holzwürze, Nuancen von Brombeeren, tabaki- ger Anklang. Saftig, elegant, Kirschen und Blaubeeren,guter Säurebogen, feine, integrierte Tannine, bleibt gut haften, eher schlanker Stil, harmonisch und bereits zugänglich.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

byJames Sucklingthe5/4/2021

Very plush and tannic with full body and lots of structure and intensity. Top second wine. Very solid and quite muscular with fine tannins and texture.