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Wine Description
The Story
La Clarté de Haut-Brion is a rare and exceptional white wine, as much due the very small scale of its production as to its composition.
It is effectively the offspring of Domaine Clarence Dillon's two prestigious white wines: Château Haut-Brion Blanc and Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc. This second-label white wine was given its new name beginning with the 2009 vintage.
Prior to this vintage, the second-label wine combining selected plots from both Château Haut-Brion Blanc and Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc was known as Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion.
This wine is the result of the blend of two second wines from our two estates. Even when still very young it will give wine lovers the opportunity to get to know the expression of the Semillon (which makes up most of the blend) in a dry white wine. Fruity and floral aromas impart great freshness and unique complexity to this wine, which is a fine introduction to its elders.
Fermentation in oak casks
Length of initial maturing period in oak casks: 9-12 months in 40-50% new wood
Average production: 1,000 to 1,200 cases
Vintage 2010
Drought and cool temperatures contribute to optimal ripeness
The sum of summer temperatures in 2010 was close to that of summer 2009 (962°C compared to 982°C), but significantly colder than those of 2005, which totaled 1052°C. These cool temperatures had a substantial influence on the balance of our wines, preserving a good level of acidity and an attractive aromatic freshness.
Very little precipitation (only 267 mm) from March to August 2010 generating a drought of similar intensity to that of 2005, when only 227 mm of rain fell.
Another characteristic of the 2010 vintage is the low temperatures especially during the first three weeks of August, which allowed good acidity levels to be preserved in the grapes while maintaining an attractive aromatic freshness.