La Clarte De Haut Brion Blanc 2015 Pessac-Leognan 《Terroir Collection - ZTF987B》

Region : Pessac-Leognan

Grapes : 73% Sauvignon Blanc、27% Semillon

Alcohol : 13.5% vol

Website: www.haut-brion.com

🏅 James Suckling 94 pts

🏅 Vinous 92 pts

🏅 Wine Advocate 90 pts

🏅 Vivino 4.3

When he purchased Château Haut-Brion in 1935, Clarence Dillon restored it to its former glory and to the elite circle of the most legendary wines in the world. This extraordinary, bold, courageous vision is now continued by the fourth generation of the family, represented by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman since 2008.

Located in the town of Pessac, just a few kilometres from Bordeaux, Château Haut-Brion – the first of the three estates acquired by the Dillon family – is the oldest winegrowing property in the region.

Château Haut-Brion’s vineyard is located in the commune of Pessac, just a few miles southwest of Bordeaux’s city center. It belongs to the Pessac-Léognan appellation, to the north of the Graves wine-growing region.

Château Haut-Brion’s singular terroir of Graves

The property is situated just opposite that of Château La Mission Haut-Brion and shares the same gravelly and elevated terrain ideal for cultivating vines already referred to Haut-Brion on ancient maps and deeds. The nature of the gravel at Château Haut-Brion, consisting of small stones of various types of quartz, is a key element contributing to the particularly valuable wine-growing potential of the soil. The gravel soil lies on a single subsoil of clay, sand, limestone and falun (limestone shell)established at the end of the Tertiary era, then during the Quaternary era throughout the Ice Ages. From 20 centimetres to over 3 metres thick, the gravel deposits form slopes that enjoy excellent exposure, with natural drainage reinforced by a large hydrographic network of small water courses, as the Peugue or the Serpent, tributaries of the Garonne.

The vineyard covers an area of 51 hectares, 48 are planted with red grapes (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) and nearly 3 hectares are devoted to white grape varieties (Sémillon and Sauvignon).

TASTING NOTES:

Pale-yellow colour. The initial impression on the nose is relatively intense.Swirling in the glass reveals subtle aromas characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc,accompanied by hints of aniseed and spice. Starts out delicate and aromatic on the palate,becoming rich and full-bodied with wonderful acidity.Notes of white flowers follow through to the finish. A superb wine best enjoyed young.

🏅 James Suckling 94 pts

Lots of minerals and stones here. Full-bodied with phenolic tension and lime, lemon and chalk flavors. Layered and joyous. Just the right lees stirring. 

🏅 Vinous 92 pts

The 2015 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is a very pretty entry-level white fromHaut-Brion. A hint of reduction adds nuance to the bright lemon peel,white flower, mint and crushed rock nuances. Understated and classy, withterrific energy, the 2015 has turned out very nicely. Even though the blendis 73% Sémillon and just 27% Sauvignon, the Sauvignon character is quitepronounced.

🏅 Wine Advocate 90 pts

This is effectively a combined second wine of Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc and La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, which prior to 2009 was known as Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion. A blend of 27% Sauvignon Blanc and 73% Semillon and redolent of ripe peaches, pink grapefruit and baking bread with touches of orange blossoms and crushed stones, the intense, satiny textured 2015 La Clarté de Haut-Brion Blanc offers up a lively palate laced with mineral accents and finishing with impressive persistence.

$695/bottle