La Clarté de Haut-Brion 2023

Grapefruit, peach, citrus, herbs; juicy palate, fine acidity, shows drive while remaining elegant; saline finish. Will be enjoyable soon, can age.

Green herbal notes, some honeyed elements, lemongrass, hay, elderflower and green apple. Juicy and clean, nice lifted style on the palate. A good weight on the tongue, this has some fat, a touch of honey with crystalline aspects, some peachy flesh and lime and grapefruit rind. Not super long or super persistent but nicely formed. Mouth-watering acidity, subtle, balanced, nothing too much, all in one line. Really easy to like and enjoy for sure. I love the softness and the soft edge of bitterness. 3.2 pH, 4 total acidity. This usually has a majority of Semillon but this year has 56.4% Sauvignon Blanc.

56.3% Sauvignon Blanc, 43.7% Sémillon. Cask sample. Bright and translucent. Sauvignon-dominated aromas. Medium intensity but lifted and fresh. (JL)

Green apples, flowers, spice, and white peach notes create the core of this wine. Juicy, sweet, and fresh, with a lemon rind and white peach palate, this will offer its charms on release. The wine blends 56.3% Semillon with 43.7% Semillon. Drink from 2025–2037. 93 Pts.

56.3% Sauvignon Blanc, 43.7% Sémillon. Playful bouquet, lemon zest and pink grapefruit essence, with white blossoms and citrus in the background. On the juicy palate, a peppery extract and lively vigor. Aromatic finish with starfruit, primrose, and carambola.

Effortless, well balanced, white peach, juicy pear, delicious, sculpted and extremely easy to love. 3.2 pH, 40% new oak. A test with shade cloths to provide cover for the berries on a small part of the white vineyard is underway, as the team under Jean-Philippe Delmas reacts to the changing conditions.

Score: 89–91. Initial notes of pineapple and meringue, with herbal, lemony freshness, followed by the depth of apricot aromas. The palate entry is nicely supple, with a milky feel and good purity.

Juvenile—in other words, the wine is still a touch reductive—La Clarté de Haut-Brion reveals floral, mineral and fruity nuances with aromas of white flowers, flint and citrus. Slightly saline on the attack, the wine is flavorful, mouthwatering and refreshing. A saline, fruity finish with good persistence. A delicious wine!

93-95. Barrel Sample. A beautiful citrus aroma and freshly, crisp fruits give this wine a direct line of textured acidity made richer with a touch of tropical fruits. This second wine comes from a blend of Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion.