This really shows Haut Brion character, with black currants, blackberries, iodine, oyster shells and stones on the nose and palate. It’s medium- to full-bodied with firm yet open-grained tannins that are rather chewy and muscular. 55.5% merlot, 40.9% cabernet sauvignon and 3.6% cabernet franc. A wine for the cellar. Best after 2028.

Cool fresh blueberries on the nose withs some herbal accents. A touch of floraity too but the majority of cooling blue fruit. Sumptuous and succulent, great weight to the tannins, almost chewy and bouncy with great acidity and a really long, streamlined core. This is confident but without trying too hard. I love the dollop of strawberry sweet and sourness that just gives so much life and nuance to the palate. Pure joy but still complex. Harmonious. Shiny.

As with En Primeur, this is deeper and richer in colour and in its tannic construction than La Chapelle, and both are a true reflection of the style of their main estate wine in this vintage. This is superb, full of plummy black fruits and softly unrolling spices, with pumice stone, slate and graphite character that makes it very much a stately Left Bank. 23% new oak for ageing. A buy.

The 2023 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is quite the powerhouse. Ample and potent to the core, Le Clarence is a standout. Black cherry fruit, mocha, gravel, incense, licorice and chocolate fill out the wine's ample, full-bodied frame. Even with all of its natural intensity, Le Clarence is quite polished in its tannin profile. - Antonio Galloni

93+ A serious, focused effort, the 2023 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion offers blackcurrants, scorched earth, tobacco leaf, graphite, and damp earth on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. It's more firm and structured compared to the La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion and will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age. Drink 2028-2048.

(TWI 91-93 points) A blend of 55.5% Merlot, 40.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3.6% Cabernet Franc, Le Clarence de Haut-Brion 2023 is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of shaking to wake up scents of fresh black and red currants, raspberry leaves, and star anise, leading to touches of mossy tree bark and wet slate. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a firm frame of grainy tannins and well knit freshness to support the spritely fruit, finishing with a savory lift. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

A blend of 55.5% Merlot, 40.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3.6% Cabernet Franc, Le Clarence de Haut‑Brion 2023 is deep garnet‑purple in color. It’s just a touch shy to start off, unfurling to reveal scents of fresh black and red currants, wild sage, and cinnamon stick, leading to touches of mossy tree bark and wet slate. Medium‑bodied, the palate delivers a firm frame of fine‑grained tannins and great tension to support the vibrant black and red fruit, finishing with a savory lift. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Floral and vibrant, the 2023 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion opens with aromas of violet, peony, lilac, dark berries and dark cherries. Medium- to full-bodied, juicy and enveloping, it is framed by velvety tannins and concludes with a long, precise and perfumed finish. As is often the case at this address, the élevage has brought additional clarity and purity to the wine’s profile.