Le Clarence de Haut Brion 2007

Tasted blind at the 2007 Bordeaux horizontal in Southwold. A superb showing that surpassed my expectations out of barrel. Here, the second wine of Haut-Brion has a lifted, minty bouquet with touches of blackberry, liquorice and cassis all with very fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, good depth with chunky black liquorice-tinged fruit towards the finish. Excellent. Tasted January 2011.

The 2007 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion (formerly called Bahans Haut-Brion) possesses sweet and sour cherry, damp earth, spice box, smoke, and forest floor characteristics. It is pure, medium-bodied, and elegant, much in the style of its bigger sibling. Drink it over the next 6-7 years.