2019 La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan
Clear Sauvignon led nose even with the high degree of Sémillon in the blend, 2019 was a warm year but Clarté has maintained a deliciously sappy and nuanced feeling. Touch of gunsmoke reduction on the nose, with lemongrass and dill freshness. They used a little more new oak than usual (45%) but it has been eaten by the acidities, and is felt only in the texture of the wine. Pulses of smoke and minerality pulse through the palate from beginning to end. 60hl/h yield, 45% new oak.
2019 La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan
Clear Sauvignon led nose even with the high degree of Sémillon in the blend, 2019 was a warm year but Clarté has maintained a deliciously sappy and nuanced feeling. Touch of gunsmoke reduction on the nose, with lemongrass and dill freshness. They used a little more new oak than usual (45%) but it has been eaten by the acidities, and is felt only in the texture of the wine. Pulses of smoke and minerality pulse through the palate from beginning to end. 60hl/h yield, 45% new oak.
Vinous
The 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is exquisite. It is a wine of unreal harmony that balances the richness of the year with the energy that comes from picking the Sémillon earlier than in the past. Orchard fruit, mint, white flowers, green apple and lemon peel give La Clarté its briskness and breezy tension. The Sauvignon Blanc is quite expressive today. The 2019 was bottled on April 28, 2020. It clearly needs time to come together.
92 Points / Drinking 2021 - 2031
By Antonio Galloni / June 2020
Vinous
The 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is exquisite. It is a wine of unreal harmony that balances the richness of the year with the energy that comes from picking the Sémillon earlier than in the past. Orchard fruit, mint, white flowers, green apple and lemon peel give La Clarté its briskness and breezy tension. The Sauvignon Blanc is quite expressive today. The 2019 was bottled on April 28, 2020. It clearly needs time to come together.
92 Points / Drinking 2021 - 2031
By Antonio Galloni / June 2020
Vinous
The 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is every bit as compelling as it was last year. Today, as back then, what stands out most is the interplay of rich fruit and energy. Orchard fruit, lemon confit, white flowers, mint and white pepper all grace this super-expressive, racy white. La Clarté is obviously not as complex as its two siblings, the Blancs from Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, but it is absolutely exquisite.
92 Points / Drinking 2024 - 2034
By Antonio Galloni / February 2022
Vinous
The 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is every bit as compelling as it was last year. Today, as back then, what stands out most is the interplay of rich fruit and energy. Orchard fruit, lemon confit, white flowers, mint and white pepper all grace this super-expressive, racy white. La Clarté is obviously not as complex as its two siblings, the Blancs from Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, but it is absolutely exquisite.
92 Points / Drinking 2024 - 2034
By Antonio Galloni / February 2022
Vinous
The 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is clear with green tints. This has a very tempting bouquet with subtle tropical fruit, passion fruit and even a touch of lychee, all very well defined, hints of orange blossom developing with time in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a slither of sour lemon on the entry and alerting the senses. Moderate depth, quite spicy relative to previous vintages with veins of stem ginger towards the finish. This is a very stylish La Clarté that should offer a decade of drinking pleasure.
92 Points / Drinking 2023 - 2033
By Neal Martin / June 2020
Vinous
The 2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion Blanc has a straightforward bouquet of grapefruit, quince and light orange pith aromas, the oak nicely integrated. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. A dab of lemongrass enlivens proceedings toward the finish. Fine.
89 Points / Drinking 2023 - 2030
By Neal Martin / February 2022