Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2022

Very close to Château Haut-Brion in both elegance and style, this second wine offers an excellent introduction to the red wines of Domaine Clarence Dillon. Formerly known as Château Bahans Haut-Brion from the earliest vintages of the 20th century, the wine was renamed Le Clarence de Haut-Brion from the 2007 vintage onwards, in tribute to Clarence Dillon, who acquired the estate in 1935.

The wine displays a deep purple-red colour. The nose is quite intense and opens up with swirling, revealing red fruit that is both fresh and ripe. The attack is precise and focused, characteristic of a truly great wine. The palate then unfolds with a pleasant, well-structured texture. The tannins are present yet juicy, with no harshness. This Clarence is remarkably fresh and seductive.

The beginning of the 2021 winter was rainy, helping to replenish the soils’ water reserves. From February onwards, temperatures rose above seasonal averages, resulting in an early start to the growing season. Early April brought a more widespread frost episode, although it was less severe than the previous year’s. Its impact on the Haut-Brion vineyards was minimal.

May saw mild temperatures and vigorous vine growth. Flowering took place under favourable conditions, while rainfall in June helped compensate for the water deficit. Three significant heatwaves—at the end of June, in July and in August—defined the summer, combined with an almost complete absence of rainfall.

Despite these extreme summer conditions, grape ripening was not hindered. Maturity was reached early, in August, following a few welcome showers that helped complete the ripening process.

The white grape harvest began on 17 August under sunny skies, making this the earliest vintage after 2003. To preserve the aromatic precursors of the white grape varieties, picking began early in the morning and the grapes were cooled upon arrival at the winery. The teams were doubled in size so that the grapes could be brought in quickly—within one week rather than the usual two—and harvested at optimum ripeness.

The Sauvignon grapes were highly aromatic, while the Sémillons were particularly refined and elegant. Both the health and maturity of the harvested grapes were perfect, with very few berries rejected during sorting.

The red grape harvest began on 29 August with the young vines, followed by the Merlots, still under ideal conditions. The aromatic profiles and analytical results were superb, pointing towards an outstanding vintage.

Once again, this harvest was a reminder never to underestimate the resilience of the vine, even in years marked by extreme conditions.

Delivery within Europe only.