Wine Advisor
La Clarte De Haut Brion 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
La Clarté de Haut-Brion is the second wine of both Haut-Brion Blanc and La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, produced from the declassified selections from both estates. The 2018 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is a blend of 79.2% Sémillon and 20.8% Sauvignon Blanc. It springs from the glass with vibrant scents of fresh grapefruit, lemon zest and key lime pie, plus suggestions of paraffin wax, sea spray and straw. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers thirst-quenching citrusy layers with a lively backbone and a decadent touch of creaminess to the texture, finishing with lovely purity.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2018 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is composed of 79.2% Sémillon and 20.8% Sauvignon Blanc, harvested August 27 to September 5. It comes bounding out of the glass with bold notions of warm pineapple, guava and peach juice plus hints of lanolin, honeysuckle, lime cordial and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied with a lovely oily texture, it fills the mouth with exotic fruit, lifted by just enough freshness and culminating in a long, pineapple-laced finish.
About the Producer
La Clatte Haut-Brion is the new name of the old Haut-Brion plantation - this is the second white wine of Haut-Brion Boulogne and Haut-Brion Blanc, which produces about 1,000 cases per year. 2018 is mainly a Semillon based wine - 79.2% - with the rest Sauvignon Blanc. La Clarté de Haut-Brion offers aromas of citrus fruit, peach, grapefruit and pastry cream, with a full-bodied, deep and fleshy wine that is satiny and can be integrated into an ample fruit core supported by lively acidity and a chalky, sturdy structure. The second wine in the portfolio of Haut-Obrion and Haut-Obrion Cathedral, this works well in the bottle, offering a richer, more exciting wine than its 2018 predecessor.
