Château Le Clarence de Haut Brion 2012
Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2012 is the second red wine of Château Haut-Brion, produced in the Pessac-Léognan appellation in Bordeaux. Its blend brings together Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The Wine Advocate awards it 90/100 with a drinking window from 2015 to 2035; Jancis Robinson rates it 17/20, to be enjoyed between 2020 and 2033, while James Suckling gives it 92/100. Critics describe a full-bodied and velvety wine with black fruits and berries, spices, fine tannins, freshness, and lovely tension.
La bouteille proposée
- Size
- Bottle (75cl)
- Packaging
- Loose
- Label Condition
- Perfect
- Fill Level
- Perfect
- Capsule Condition
- Perfect
Identité du vin
- Couleur
- Red
- Pays
- France
- Région
- Bordeaux
- Appellation
- Pessac Léognan
- Producteur / Domaine
- Château Haut Brion
- Cuvée
- Le Clarence de Haut-Brion
- Millésime
- 2012
Cépage et assemblage
- Grape Variety
- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Château Haut Brion
Château Haut-Brion is an estate in Pessac, within the Pessac-Léognan appellation, in the north of the Graves region and in the immediate vicinity of Bordeaux. Its 51-hectare vineyard lies on a terrace of gravel, with 48 hectares of red grape varieties and around 3 hectares of white grape varieties. Owned by Domaine Clarence Dillon since 1935, it is one of the Premiers Grands Crus Classés of 1855 and remains the only estate classified at this level outside the Médoc.
- Owner
- Domaine Clarence Dillon (famille Dillon)
- Maître de chais
- Florence Forgas
- Surface (ha)
- 51.00 ha
Histoire du domaine
The earliest known written reference to a wine identified with the Haut-Brion terroir dates from 1521. In 1533, Jean de Pontac acquired the rights to the noble estate of Haut-Brion, having received part of the land through his marriage to Jeanne de Bellon in 1525. He began construction of the château in 1549 and gradually organised the wine-growing estate. His descendants subsequently built up the wine’s reputation, particularly on the English market in the 17th century. Arnaud III de Pontac expanded the vineyard and contributed to the rise of a style of wine then known as ‘New French Claret’. Following several changes of ownership in the 18th and 19th centuries, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand owned the estate from 1801 to 1804. In 1855, Château Haut-Brion was classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé for its red wines, alongside Lafite, Latour and Margaux. The estate has carried out systematic bottling on the premises since 1923. The American banker Clarence Dillon acquired Château Haut-Brion on 13 May 1935 and, together with his nephew Seymour Weller, undertook a modernisation of the buildings and cellars. The Dillon family still owns the estate today through Domaine Clarence Dillon, which has been chaired and managed by Prince Robert of Luxembourg since 2008. Winemaking is currently overseen by the technical team led by Jean-Philippe Masclef, with Florence Forgas as cellar master.
Le Clarence de Haut-Brion
Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is the second red wine of Château Haut-Brion. Close to the grand vin in its style and elegance, it is crafted to reach maturity more quickly. It has borne this name since the 2007 vintage, replacing Château Bahans Haut-Brion.
- Origin of the cuvée name
- The name pays tribute to Clarence Dillon, who acquired Château Haut-Brion in 1935.
- Cuvée creation year
- 2007
- Style of the cuvée
- An elegant and structured red wine, stylistically close to Château Haut-Brion, but generally accessible and mature sooner.
- Position within the range
- The second red wine of Château Haut-Brion and an entryway to the estate's red wines.
Histoire de la cuvée
The estate's second red wine was marketed under the name Château Bahans Haut-Brion from the early years of the 20th century. Starting with the 2007 vintage, it was renamed Le Clarence de Haut-Brion as a tribute to Clarence Dillon.
