Clarence de Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2014

Vinous

91-94 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 11/05/2015

A huge, voluptuous wine, the 2014 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion wraps around the palate with serious depth and power. The Merlot is especially opulent and concentrated. Super-ripe dark red cherry, plum, spice and leather flesh out in a wine that captures all of the richness of the dry Indian summer. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2014 Clarence is going to need time to fully come together. The blend is 80% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc.

The Wine Cellar Insider

89-91 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 05/05/2015

Eau de forest, black raspberry and a note of thyme on the nose, this wine is medium-bodied wine is sweet, supple, fresh and serves up a pure cherry finish. The wine was produced from 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. 89-91 Pts

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

par Neal Martin le 30/04/2015

The Le Clarence de Haut Brion 2014 is a blend of 80% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc. (There was a lot of Merlot due to a lot of deselection from the Grand Vin.) It has an immediately engaging bouquet, perhaps better definition than the Chapelle de la Mission, a little more mineralité coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, cohesive, tighter and more linear than the La Chapelle with longer persistence on the finish. Excellent.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 22/04/2015

80% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon. 
Deep crimson. Rather silky and opulent. Polished fruit and some real depth. But pretty strict in terms of dryness. An edge of firmness and quite marked acidity. Only medium bodied. But some nobility in terms of oak quality and tannin management. 

Asian Palate

89 / 100

par Jeannie Cho Lee MW le 20/04/2015

Lovely structure to this medium bodied red with firm tannins, plum and savory spices. 80% Merlot in this blend. Well composed, easy to approach refreshing red that will be drinking well within the first several years of its life but should keep for 5 to 8 years in bottle.

Decanter.com

17,25 / 20

par Jane Anson le 17/04/2015

The fruit feels cleverly fleshed out, attractive brambly depth, slight toasted almonds on the nose. Again fine tannins, clean lift on the finish, clear feeling of extracting the tannins just as far as they can and not a step more. The finish is a touch tight, but this is astringent not bitter, and bodes well for an excellent quality fairly early to medium term drinker. 80% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon.14.1%abv. Drink: 2020-2032 (90+)

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

par James Suckling le 10/04/2015

Gorgeous second wine for Haut-Brion with firm and savory tannins. Full, refined and layered with meat, tobacco, dark fruit and earth. Serious.

timatkin.com

92 / 100

par Tim Atkin MW le 07/04/2015

René Gabriel

17 / 20

par René Gabriel le 01/04/2015

80 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc, 16 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubiner Rand. Traumhaftes Bouquet, sehr filigran im Ansatz, dunkle Beeren und Rosenblätter, ein Hauch von Sommertrüffel und Pumpernickelbrot. Saftiger, eleganter Gaumen, die Tannine sind erstaunlich fein, erst im Nachklang kommt sein Potential und auch sein nicht zu unterschätzendes Potential zum Tragen. Dieser Zweitwein reflektiert sehr viel Aromatik von seinem grossen Bruder, dem Haut- Brion. Und - obwohl das Deklassement von einem Premier heute auch schon eine schöne Stange Geld kostet, würde ich hier anraten, zu investieren. In etwa 10 Jahren wird man von diesem Kauf keinen Cent bereuen! 17/20 2020 – 2034

Wine Enthusiast

94 / 100

par Roger Voss le 01/04/2015

93–95. Barrel Sample. A dark and smoky wine of an impressively powerful structure, this is packed with tannins and rich fruits that burst out of the glass. With this combination, the wine is likely to age well.

  — R.V.  (3/30/2015)

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

par James Molesworth le 31/03/2015

Plump, fleshy and inviting in feel, with a strong plum pâte de fruit note leading the way, backed by anise, blueberry and tar flavors. Picks up lots of briary grip on the
finish. Still youthfully raw, but exhibits good energy and stuffing.