La Clarté de Haut-Brion 2017

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

VertdeVin

Composed of 30.6% Sauvignon Blanc and 69.4% Sémillon, the 2017 La Clarté de Haut-Brion comes roaring out of the glass with bold notes of fresh apricots, pineapple and lime cordial plus hints of chalk dust, straw and coriander seed with a touch of honeysuckle. Medium-bodied, the palate has electric intensity with bags of stone and tropical fruit layers and a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing long and zesty.

The nose is elegant, well-built and offers minerality as well as a crystalline side. It reveals notes of fleshy nectarine, ripe citrus and small notes of sweet grapefruit zest associated with fine touches of exotic fruits as well as hints of flowers and imperceptible hints of vanilla (in the background). The palate is fruity, mineral, balanced and offers an acidulous / juicy frame, a good definition, gourmandize, fat / suavity, roundness, a small fleshiness, finesse as well as tension / dynamism. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy nectarine, sweet citrus fruits (kumquat, lemon, grapefruit) and small notes of exotic fruits associated with discreet hints of white flowers (honeysuckle, lemon tree) as well as slight hints of minerality. racy and very discreet / imperceptible hints of vanilla (in the background). Good length.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Composed of 30.6% Sauvignon Blanc and 69.4% Sémillon, the 2017 La Clarté de Haut-Brion comes roaring out of the glass with bold notes of fresh apricots, pineapple and lime cordial plus hints of chalk dust, straw and coriander seed with a touch of honeysuckle. Medium-bodied, the palate has electric intensity with bags of stone and tropical fruit layers and a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing long and zesty.

At Château Haut-Brion and neighboring La Mission Haut-Brion, only about one hectare out of around 80 hectares of vineyards was damaged by frost in 2017. It seemed that in the areas where there was a little wind, there was no frost. Budbreak was on March 13—not so early for this warm little pocket of vineyards close to the city—but the evolution of the vines was certainly faster than usual for the rest of the spring. It was a very dry, warm spring with even flowering. At the end of June, there was some rain to quench the parched vines, then July was a little cooler, according to Jean-Philippe Delmas. By mid-September, after the whites had already come in, the rains became an issue. The Merlot was almost all in before the rain, but the Cabernet Franc was affected and not much was used this year. Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested after the rains. Overall yields averaged out at a very respectable 49.6 hectoliters per hectare. While the reds are incredibly impressive at both properties in 2017, I have to confess that I was completely blown away by the caliber of the whites. WOW! Possessing at once electric intensity and yet bags of tightly wound layers just waiting to be expressed over many years of cellaring, this is a truly spectacular vintage for the dry whites at both estates.

James Suckling

Dense and layered with dried-citrus and lanolin aromas and flavors. Some lemon-grass undertones as well. Full body. Attractive texture and length. A little oily. Better after 2021.