La Clarté de Haut-Brion 2019

The great finesse of a dry white wine from Graves

The estate
A neighbor of the illustrious Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion has served for centuries as one of the most iconic references of Bordeaux. Founded in the 16th century by the Lestonnac family, the property was then managed by the Lazarist priests. Now belonging to the Clarence Dillon estates and Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Château La Mission Haut-Brion continues to shine as one the greatest châteaux in the world.

The vineyard
Located in the municipalities of Talence and Pessac, Château la Mission Haut-Brion is classified under the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The Château La Mission Haut-Brion vineyard covers 29 hectares of vines, 25 of which are dedicated to red grape varieties and 4 to white grape varieties. The vineyards of Château de La Mission Haut-Brion are planted in beautiful gravelly soils resting upon a subsoil of clay, sand, limestone and faluns (a shelly limestone).

The vintage
Combining freshness and significant heat, 2019 will be remembered for its major climatic contrasts. The summer brought several heatwaves which did not, however, lead to water stress in the vines or blockage of the ripening process. Rainy days in September made it possible for the grapes to become perfectly ripe in time for the harvest. The harvest began on August 29 for the whites and on September 10 for the reds.

The blend
Sauvignon blanc
(51,7%), sémillon (48,3%).

The tasting

Tasted en primeur, the La Clarté de Haut-Brion white 2019 has a pale yellow colour. The aromatic bouquet is gradually revealed as the wine is swirled, highlighting the aniseed and spicy notes typical of Sauvignon Blanc. At first, this wine is delicate and fragrant on the palate, gradually revealing its full breadth, while maintaining a nice tension through a beautiful acidity. The finish lingers long, offering beautiful notes of white flowers. A unique wine, due to the predominance of Sauvignon Blanc in its blend, the La Clarté de Haut-Brion 2019 is a singular vintage, reminiscent of some of the greatest vintages in the estate’s history. With its incredible fruit expression, this great dry white wine will delight fans of the estate even in its youth.