2010

La Clarence de Haut-Brion

Similar in style and elegance to its elder, the Château Haut-Brion red, this second wine brings together all the unique attributes of a fine wine, while reaching maturity more quickly. This wine has carried the name Château Bahans Haut-Brion since the first years of the twentieth century and was renamed Le Clarence de Haut-Brion beginning with the 2007 vintage, as a tribute to Clarence Dillon, who acquired the property in 1935.

Tasting notes

This wine is a deep, purplish-red in the glass, with brilliant highlights.
Initially slightly reserved on the nose, it developed fascinating complexity on aeration.
Fresh red-berry fruit was accented by hints of spicier aromas, such as cocoa.
The initial impression was very soft and soothing on the palate,
but the tannic structure gradually affirmed its presence, combining firmness with great finesse.
This wine confirmed our assessment from recent vintages
that Le Clarence de Haut-Brion can certainly be considered a great wine.

 

The weather

A dry year with an arid summer. The weather during the growing season, from early April to late September, was the driest since 1949. This water deficit caused dehydration in the vines, concentrating the grape juice and producing the highest values ever measured, particularly in terms of sugar content. The very cool nights promoted the accumulation of anthocyanin, so the 2010 red wines are the deepest-colored in recent years.

A few figures

  • Harvest dates

    From September 9th to October 9th   

  • Blend

    Merlot: 52%
    Cabernet Sauvignon: 36%
    Cabernet Franc : 10 % ;
    Petit Verdot : 2%

  • New barrels

    35%

  • Alcohol

    14.5%  

  • Bottling date

    From June 4th to 6th 2012