Chateau Haut Brion   Le Clarence de Haut Brion

2009 Le Clarence de Haut Brion

By Chateau Haut Brion

2009 Le Clarence de Haut Brion from Chateau Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux

In the pantheon of Bordeaux's illustrious wines, the 2009 vintage from Pessac-Leognan stands as a beacon of perfection, which particularly shines through in the 2009 Le Clarence de Haut Brion. This offering from Chateau Haut Brion, a cornerstone of the wine investment landscape, presents an extraordinary opportunity to discerning investors and collectors alike—with the 2009 vintage singled out for its sheer majesty and aging potential.

 

The Embodiment of a Stellar Vintage

Imbued with the characteristics that make for legendary Bordeaux vintages, the 2009 Le Clarence de Haut Brion articulates its narrative through a tapestry woven with opulent fruit and consummate structure. It is a year remembered for its nearly textbook conditions; warm days and cool nights culminated in a harvest that was both abundant and of staggering quality. The performance of this wine is, undoubtedly, anchored in these ideal climatic gifts.

 

Distinct Character Defines Its Essence

The palate delights in the 2009 Canterbury from Chateau Haut Brion’s embrace of ripeness and poise. Its plush cassis and blackberry core are adorned with subtle smoky notes—a homage to its time spent in oak—which underpin the dense but silky tannins. The climactic crescendo betrays a hint of graphite and warm earth, nodding to the graveled terroir from which it springs with an undeniable Bordeaux fingerprint present throughout.

A nuanced balance between potency and grace defines this wine. Investment-minded enthusiasts would be wise to note its capacity for continued evolution—this vintage promises to thrill palates for years, perhaps even decades, to come.

 

Wine Investment Woven with Prestige

As one reflects on the splendour of 2009 Le Clarence de Haut Brion from Chateau Haut Brion—lustrous yet grounded, bold yet intricately detailed—it beckons not merely as a beverage but as an asset. One can scarcely overlook its stature in the context of fine wine investment where provenance and performance converge. Here lies not only an epicurean treasure but also a tangible affirmation of wine's enduring allure as an investment vehicle—ripe with potential for appreciation akin to its vinous crescendo over time.

Current market price

$2,003.16

12x75cl

Highest score

95

POP score

80

Scores and tasting notes

95

What a nose. You see the chocolate, orange peel, sweet tobacco. Goes to milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and round tannin structure. Creamy texture. Like the great 1995. Sweet and beautiful. Try in 2016.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, May 9th 2012

92

The second wine, the 2009 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, is almost as large a cuvee as the grand vin. This 7,000-case cuvee is a blend of 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small quantities of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Once again the burning ember/scorched earth characteristic that often comes from Haut-Brion is found in the second wine, along with more kirsch and cassis, fewer nuances and less complexity than its bigger sibling. The wine is full-bodied with the minerality offered by this terroir as well as plenty of sweet tannins. This is the finest second wine Haut-Brion has produced since the astonishing 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion. Enjoy it over the next two decades.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 December 2011

90

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Clarence de Haut Brion ‘09 has a much more timid bouquet with light blackberry and briary fruit, touches of sous-bois and liquorice developing with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with a firm grip. Bold and brassy but still very well balanced with a fresh inviting finish. This is showing better than 12 months ago. Tasted January 2013.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2013

Vintage performance