2024 Ch Le Clarence de Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan

DUE NOV 2027

Dark fruit, dark olives and minerals, with a good tannin structure on the palate. Medium- to full-bodied with juicy fruit in a nicely austere style. Composed, firm and long, without any fruit sweetness. Classic and intellectual in style. Merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.

94-95 points jamessuckling.com

Clearer levels of intensity and concentration than Chapelle from the same stable, evn a touch of fennel and liquorice, a welcome gourmet character in this lean-styled vintage, plenty of spice and savoury black fruits, with salinity on the finish. Quite a different expression than recent vintages with lower alcohol and slim frame, but this delivers estate signature. 6.3% press, 31% new oak., harvest September 17 to October 4, 26hl/h yield.

92 points janeanson.com

Fresh and perfumed with elegant notes of dark berries, spices, licorice and lead pencil, the 2024 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion possesses a medium-bodied, firm and slightly introverted palate with firm tannins and a long, mulberries-inflected finish. The blend—45.7% Merlot, 32.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Cabernet Franc—features one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Franc since 2006.

90-92 points robertparker.com

Darker cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and smoky nuances all emerge from Haut-Brion's second wine, the 2024 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion. A blend of 45.7% Merlot, 32.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, it's medium-bodied, has a nicely balanced, concentrated mid-palate, and building tannins. Compared to the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, it's a denser, more structured wine.

91-93 points jebdunnuck.com