Red and black currants, smoked tobacco, iron, and spicy, almost meaty notes all emerge from the 2021 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion, a medium-bodied, pure, seamless, incredibly elegant second wine that has ripe, polished tannins and a great finish.

More closed and shy than La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, the 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion offers up a delicate, complex bouquet with aromas of plums, spices, lead pencil, licorice and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied with a structuring core of fruit, it’s seamless and vibrant with a long, penetrating finish. Keep it over the next decade.

Ruby violet in colour, and the angular tannins found during En Primeur have softened and sculpted over ageing. There is something thoroughly irresistable about this more classic style of the Haut-Brion stablen with black fruits that are fully ripe, bright and vibrant, but still with a feeling of solidity and depth. Even with higher levels of Merlot in the blend than usual, this is structured, and still-tight tannins that need a good three or four years before opening (which still makes it an early drinker within this universe of wines). 28% new oak, Jean-Philippe Delmas estate director.

Soft green apples and herbal touches with raspberries and wild cherries. A lovely clarity and grip to this, textured and bright, giving a touch of leanness but with a chalky, mineral grip to the cheeks and tongue. I like the character, a bit more full bodied than Chapelle. Lovely tension and hold, keeps the interest with a cool blackcurrant and blueberry undertone with freshly picked mint. Loses some oomph on the finish, but unfussy and still with lots of character.

Classic Haut Brion nose of warm earth, brick, red cherry and blackcurrant fruit. Some lovely gravelly minerality underneath too. Very fluid style, with very fine tannins and excellent freshness giving a lovely supple texture. Fine, precise blackcurrant and black cherry fruit with good energy and a satisfying mineral finish.
April 2022

One of the finest second wines in this vintage is the 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered wine evocative of dark berries, plums, pipe tobacco and burning embers. Built around powdery tannins and lively acids, it's an elegant, seamless cuvée that does bear more than a passing resemblance to the grand vin.
William Kelley, April 2022

Bright and vibrant ruby and violet in colour, and even with higher levels of Merlot in the blend this year, this is more structured and subdued than the Chapelle with the character diffrence between the two estates fairly marked. Has a feeling of solidity and depth, with a focus on black fruits and tight tannins, give it a good four or five years before opening. 28% new oak.
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, May 2022

The 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is deep, fleshy and super-expressive. Like all of the wines in this vintage here, the Clarence is on the lighter side, but that is not a bad thing. Primary dark fruit, leather, spice and tobacco fill out the layers nicely.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022

The 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a very pure bouquet of blueberry, cedar and violet, perhaps slightly more ethereal than the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion. The palate is medium-bodied with quite strict tannins and a little more saline than expected, leading to a fresh finish. Maybe it lacks a bit of persistence, but it is a fine Deuxième Vin.
Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2022

Fragrant red-fruit notes. Broad and smooth on attack with finely integrated tannins. Palate a bit more subdued but fresh with firmness on the finish. Room for development. (JL) 13.6%
Drink 2026 – 2036
Jancisrobinson.com, May 2022