Winemaker Notes
A deep color and a soft bouquet of liquorice and blackcurrant. The wine has violet and slightly toasty nuances on the palate. The texture is velvety and the flavor altogether powerful and elegant. There is a wonderful refined balance between high-quality tannin, concentration, tension, and freshness. A lovely vintage for Clarendelle!
Blend: 74% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Love the aromas of plums and brambleberries. Medium body, soft and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Deliciously soft and fresh. A solid Bordeaux for the money. Drink now.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: As a wine taster, my journey to find the best wines of any given category can be long and winding. Wines labeled Bordeaux are incredibly numerous making a search for them difficult. The 2014 Clarendelle by Haut-Brion was almost a no-brainer; this wine is solid. TASTING NOTES: Make no mistake with this wine, this is a Bordeaux rouge. Its black fruit, slight earthiness, and a hint of leather point to this AOC's direction. Put a juicy ribeye on the grill and enjoy. (Tasted: May 11, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
In most of France, wines are named by their place of origin and not by the type of grape (with the exception of Alsace). Just like a red Burgundy is by law, always made of Pinot noir, a red Bordeaux is a blended wine composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Depending on the laws of the village from which the grapes come, the conditions of the vintage and decisions of the winemaker, the blend can be further supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere. So popular and repeated has this mix of grape varieties become worldwide, that the term, Bordeaux Blend, refers to a wine blended in this style, regardless of origin.
CDC290518_2014 Item# 290518