The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut Brion is a Bordeaux blend from the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine from the renowned producer Le Clarence de Haut Brion is sealed with a cork and boasts an alcohol content of 15.0%.
Professional reviewers have lauded this wine for its complexity and balance. William Kelley from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it 92 points, noting its "attractive aromas of dark berries, rose petals, cigar wrapper and burning embers," and described the palate as "rich, seamless and enveloping, with an open, expressive profile and a long, subtly kirsch-inflected finish."
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com was particularly impressed, scoring it between 94-96 points and calling it "probably the finest vintage of Le Clarence de Haut Brion ever produced." He highlighted its "juicy, silky, fresh and vibrant" character with "layers of fresh, sweet, vibrant, polished red fruits that linger." He emphasized its elegance and predicted it would be enjoyable for the next 10-15 years.
James Suckling gave it an excellent score of 97 points, describing it as "very plush and tannic with full body and lots of structure and intensity." He praised it as "very solid and quite muscular with fine tannins and texture."
Decanter awarded it 93 points, appreciating its "dark fruits on the nose, plum and blackcurrant with a gentle fragrance." They noted its "nice body and weight in the mouth, round and juicy, plump and alive with lovely energy and focus," and commended its balance and lingering flavors.
Jeb Dunnuck also gave it a strong review with 94+ points, identifying "lots of ripe blackcurrant fruit, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, cedar, and lead pencil." He remarked on its "brilliant Graves character" and recommended 4-5 years of bottle age for optimal enjoyment.
Multiple reviewers from Vinous praised the wine, with Neal Martin and Antonio Galloni both awarding it 91-93 points. Martin noted its "succulent bouquet of dark cherries, boysenberry and crushed violet scents," while Galloni appreciated its "deep, powerful and structured" nature, capturing the gravitas of the Grand Vin in a more accessible style.
Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss gave it 93-95 points, noting its "initial austerity" and predicting it will age well. Jane Anson from janeanson.com awarded it 93 points, highlighting its "concentrated spice notes, seductive texture of slate and satin," and its "big tannins that are fully ripe, cradling the blackberry fruit and christmas pudding spice."
Overall, the 2020 Le Clarence de Haut Brion is a highly regarded wine with strong structure, complexity, and aging potential, receiving praise for its balance and rich flavors.