Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2024 en Primeur

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.

Fragrant red cherry and blackcurrant on the nose. Fruit forward and expressive, this has a bit of sweet and sourness - cherry and strawberry with some toasted cedar, tobacco and clove touches bringing the spice to the fore. High toned, bright and direct, this has lots of energy and in time will settle nicely. Mint, clove, cedar spice lingers long on the finish. 3.65pH. 6.3% press. (Georgina Hindle)

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Restrained, delicate herbal savouriness, a hint of cherries, nuances of dried rose petals. Juicy, silky and fresh, appears light-footed, red berry notes on the finish, mineral-salty in the finale, fine savoury style. (Peter Moser)

The 2024 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a very beautiful second wine. Dark and pliant, with terrific nuance, the 2024 is a delight. Cabernet Franc is quite high in this vintage. It’s a style that works so well. All the elements are impeccably balanced. Time in the glass brings out notable aromatic presence and body. (Antonio Galloni)

A little closed, but cassis and dried herb aromas with some thyme and menthe. Fresh and inviting. In the mouth the supreme quality of the estate and the work in the vineyard and winery is apparent with palate-coating violet and blueberry fruit flavours and some creaminess already. This edges the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion second wine for me, and will provide lovely mid term drinking.

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. (Yohan Castaing)