Clarence de Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2022

Alexandre Ma

93

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

The bouquet begins somewhat reserved but unfolds with a gentle swirl, revealing notes of cinnamon, clove, mulberry, and rosemary. Comprising 62.1% Merlot, this wine surprisingly exhibits the structure and intensity of Cabernet Sauvignon, with a muscular, tightly-knit profile. Despite its relatively high alcohol level, the balance is impeccable. While it displayed a slight acidity deficiency during the En Primeur stage, this has significantly improved after bottling. The herbal freshness of Cabernet Franc, coupled with a touch of ethereal violet fragrance, lends a vitality to its opulent body.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

The fruit is a darker than in La Mission, a ton of depth to the flavour, and this has really grown into itself over ageing. Creamy cassis and blackberry, graphite or rather a smudged crayon because there is a softness to this, plump and enticing but with structure and clear ageability. Serious at first, then lightens up. great quality.

Wine Advocate

93

byYohan Castaingthe3/6/2025

More introverted and shy than during the en primeur tastings, the 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion offers up aromas of dark berries and spices mingled with pencil lead notes. Medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it's framed by structured, youthful tannins and a long, penetrating finish. Give it time to digest its élevage.

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

Compared to the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, the 2022 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion brings a darker core of cherry and currant fruits as well as smoky, leather, and scorched earth-like aromatics. It's slightly more concentrated and has a more focused, structured style on the palate, yet it's incredibly well balanced, pure, precise, and elegant. It's a mini Haut-Brion that has tons of Grand Vin character.

Yvesbeck.wine

95

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

Le bouquet du Clarence de Haut-Brion souligne d'entrée sa finesse et sa subtilité. Très précis, il invite à goûter le vin et annonce d'excellents présages. Ceux-ci sont parfaitement assimilés par le palais qui est linéaire et harmonieux. Le vin s'y déroule sans accrocs, avec concentration et vigueur tout en disposant d'une structure rafraîchissante. Un Clarens de haute voltige, que l'on pourra apprécier jeune, mais qui dispose également d'un excellent potentiel ! 2027-2040 95/100

Vinous

91

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a little high-toned and more opulent than the La Chapelle Mission Haut-Brion, developing more blueberry fruit and delineation as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, slightly candied entry. This is a generous La Clarence that just tapers in a little toward the finish. Therefore, afford this a couple of years in bottle.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Violets and dark berries with hints of wet earth and black truffles on the nose. Medium-bodied, this has focused tannins that tighten at the end. Blackcurrants and mushrooms with dried earth. Muscular for the second wine of Haut-Brion. Needs four or five years to soften and open. Best after 2029.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a fabulous second wine. Broad and explosive on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2022 is a total stunner. Dark-toned fruit, leather, spice, menthol and espresso are all dialed up to the maximum. Rich, ample and inviting, the Clarence is positively stellar. What a vivid and deeply satisfying wine it is. All this lacks is a bit of structure on the finish, but then again, this is 2022.

Wine Maniacs

93-95

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

92

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Liquorice, blackcurrant and chocolate on the nose, smells inviting with soft perfumed touches. Sappy and wonderfully vibrant, really juicy and lively, not so plush although the tannins have shape and texture - velvety and mouth filling this really keeps a fresh and cool blue fruit touch with stoney elements. Light, almost delicate in terms of tannic expression and fruit presentation. Aerial and well balanced. Lovely clarity and poise, well worked and just feels generous and appealing. 1.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.9pH.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a slightly higher-toned bouquet than the La Chapelle with blueberry, blackberry, iris petal and strawberry pastille aromas. Playful. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline entry and fine-boned tannins. The 2022 is poised and focused with a sophisticated finish. Superb.

The Vintage Journal

93-94

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Medium deep crimson. Intense black cherry leafy hint pippy aromas with dark choc notes. Deeply concentrated back cherry elderberry fruits, vigour dry tannins, attract be mid palate richness and long fresh but marked acidity. Needs a long time to come around. (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. About 30% new oak) 15.4% alc

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is composed of 62.1% Merlot, 21.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc, and 1.5% Petit Verdot aging in 20% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing to bring out scents of mulberries, plum preserves, and blackberry compote, plus hints of fallen leaves, Sichuan pepper, and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is bright and breezy, delivering crunchy black fruits and rounded tannins, finishing with impressive freshness.

Yvesbeck.wine

93-94

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Bonne symbiose entre des parfums de myrtilles, de prunes et d'épices douces idéalement soutenue par l'élevage. Le vin a du corps et des tannins bien définis, aux grains fins, qui offrent une excellente assise. Harmonieux, trammé et ciselé, le vin dispose d'une puissance insoupçonnée couplée à la fraîcheur et la tension de la structure acide. Il en résulte un côté énergétique qui donne de la fougue à la finale. Celle-ci est légèrement saline, juteuse et minérale. Un vin prometteur qui affiche de subtiles nuances fruitées en finale.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

The 2022 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion is mostly Merlot but includes 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and a little less than 2% Petit Verdot. It's a darker fruited, more structured second wine offering medium to full-bodied richness, a ripe, layered, textured profile, beautiful tannins, and classic notes of darker currants, cherries, smoked tobacco, and scorched earth. It's clearly an outstanding wine and has more than a hint of classic Haut-Brion style.

Vinous

92-94

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is fabulous. Rich, deep and explosive, La Clarence is everything a second wine should be. In other words, a smaller-scaled version of the original. Sumptuous dark fruit makes a strong opening statement. Complicated notes of gravel, dried herbs, crushed rose petals and blood orange lend gorgeous savory nuance. Impressive. Drinking window : 2028-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Cigar box, spice, burning herbs, black plums, and cherries create the nose. The wine is refined, silky and fresh, The fruits are ripe, sweet, lifted and have no problem expressing their essence on the mid-palate, and in the elegant finish, which delivers a plethora of spices and a touch of refreshing mints in the endnote. Enjoy this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 62% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot. 14.4% ABV, 3.9 pH. Drink 2025-2045.

Wine Advocate

91-93

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, the second wine of Château Haut-Brion, is elaborated from a blend of 61.2% Merlot, 21.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot. It reveals a bright, fruity bouquet with aromas of dark berries, plums, tobacco, graphite and spices. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, textural and fleshy with structuring tannins and a fresh, tense finish. It is a very nice way to introduce the great wine of Haut-Brion. 91 - 93+

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

A medium- to full-bodied red with fine and lightly chewy tannins. Lots of dark chocolate, crushed stone and graphite flavors at the end. Subtle. 62.1% merlot, 21.9% cabernet sauvignon, 14.5% cabernet franc and 1.5% petit verdot.