2016 Le Clarence de Haut Brion - Zweitwein von Haut Brion - Pessac-Leognan

Decanter.com – 94 pts – JA: *As with La Mission Haut-Brion and La Chapelle, there is a beautiful signature here running from grand vin to second wine, a clear indication of quality. This is a little more intense than La Chapelle, which was pretty and floral, showing a firmer side with cassis and blackberry. A gorgeous, confident wine. It's very hard to think of a vintage where things are so well constructed and yet so soft. Clarence de Haut-Brion represents 31% of production, from a blend of 51.3% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.1% Cabernet Franc and 2.6% Petit Verdot aged in 33% new oak.* - 04/2017

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, breite Randaufhellung. Zarte Nuancen von dunklem Waldbeerkonfit. Saftig, elegant, reife Kirschen, frisch strukturiert, extraktsüßer Abgang, mineralisch und gut anhaftend, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter.* - 03/2019

Vinum Magazin – 16/20pts: *Einer der besten bisher verkosteten Clarence mit Volumen, Dichte, Struktur und Frische.* - 06/2019

Weinwisser - 17/20pts - GL: *Tiefes Purpur mit violettem Rand. Komplexe Nase mit schwarzer Johannisbeere und dunkler Kirsche, dahinter Lakritze und schwarzer Pfeffer. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit engmaschigem Körper, feiner Adstringenz und langem Finale. Zurück zur Klassik!*

JancisRobinson.com - 17/20pts - JR: *Tasted blind. Sweet and fairly ripe. A bit austere on the end. But lots of fruit on the way there.* - 01/2020

JamesSuckling.com - (94-95)pts - JS: *This is powerful and intense with lots of minerals, crushed stones and dark fruit. Dense and linear. Minerally and very energetic.* - 04/2017

Vinous.com – 94 pts - AG: *The 2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is an absolutely gorgeous, vivid wine endowed with tremendous aromatic intensity and stunning beauty. Gravel, tobacco, smoke and dark fruit all open up in the glass, but it is the wine's total sense of allure that is most captivating. The Clarence seems to have firmed up a bit following its bottling in June, but that is not at all a bad thing. Today, it is memorable. There is not much more I can add.* - 01/2019

Vinous.com – 92 pts – NM: *The 2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has an impressive bouquet of vibrant red berry fruit, rose petal and loamy aromas and impressively assimilated oak. The medium-bodied palate offers supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Crisp and focused, with a complex finish full of tension and terroir expression. This is another superb Pessac-Léognan. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.* - 01/2020