Masterclass wines Domaine Clarence Dillon - Wijnkoperij Okhuysen

About a month ago we had a masterclass and lunch with the famous wines of Domaine Clarence Dillon. Guillaume-Alexandre Marx came over from Bordeaux to accompany this special master class with Xavier Kat from Wijnkoperij Okhuysen at Restaurant Sinck - Amsterdam.

Together with 12 top sommeliers and Ronald de Groot from Perswijn we had the opportunity to taste seven different wines from Domaine Clarence Dillon.

A brief introduction

When wine merchant Clarence Dillon first visited the Bordeaux region in 1934, he fell in love with the wine from Château Haut-Brion at the first sip. At the time, the now legendary winery was a bit run-down, but Dillon immediately recognized its potential. That's why he bought Château Haut-Brion a year later. Step by step, he assembled a team that ensured the chateau regained its former allure. But it didn't stop there. As a company called Clarence Dillon Wines, the Dillon family purchased neighboring Château La Mission Haut-Brion in 1983 and Château Quintus in Saint-Émilion in 2011 - incidentally, also holding grand cru status.

On November 17, 2015, Domaine Clarence Dillon's scope of activities broadened with the creation of two new companies, both based in its headquarters, a mansion house located in the heart of Paris Golden Triangle. This residence allows visitors to discover the atmosphere of Château Haut-Brion while also discovering a gourmet cuisine awarded 2 Michelin stars, “Le Clarence”. Housed in the same building is “La Cave du Château”, a fine wine shop featuring a wide selection of wines sourced exclusively from the greatest terroirs of France. In September of 2021, a new visitor centre and wine shop were opened at Château Haut-Brion in Bordeaux.

The wines of Domaine Clarence Dillon:

We started with the wines from Château Quintus.

In June 2011, the owners of Ch. Haut Brion (Dom. Clarence Dillon) purchased the Château Tertre Daugay located on the chalk plateau in the southeastern part of St. Emilion. They renamed the château and vinified their first vintage. In October 2013, they also purchased its neighbor, Ch. L'Arrosée. Both terroirs were merged and are now sold under the name Ch. Quintus. The name comes from the Latin "fifth," as this is the fifth wine, (after Ch. Haut Brion red and white and Ch. Mission Haut Brion red and white) that they produce. The terroir, with vines with an average age of 30 years, consists of limestone and clay-limestone. It is surrounded by 5 great cru's from St. Emilion, which proves its exceptional quality. A double triage, also with the optical eye, ensures a very pure and ripe harvest. The team from Haut Brion vinifies the wine there. A special bottle with the logo burned on it (referring to the style of the oldest bottles of Ch. Haut Brion) is used for bottling.

Chateau Quintus - Le Dragon de Quintus 2016 (91/100 TSW)
The second wine of the state with about 60% of the total.

Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.
In the glass a deep purple red color.
On the medium(+) nose aromas of blackberries, plums and cherries with hints of pencil shaving, mint, vanilla and prunes.
On the palate dry, medium(+) bodied  with medium(+) ripe tannins. Flavours of chocolate, spices, ceder, mocha and spices with a medium(++) length finish.

Chateau Quintus - Chateau Quintus 2015 (93/100 TSW)

Blend of 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc.
In the glass a deep purple, ruby red color.
On the medium(+) nose aromas of cherries, plums and blackberries  with hints of black pepper, ceder, chocolate, figs and some menthol hints.
On the plate dry, medium(+) bodied  with medium(+) ripe tannins. Great intensity and mouthfeel with chocolate, spices and dark fruits and a wonderful and long final.

Next in line the wines from Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion

Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a Grand Cru Classé located in AOC Pessac-Léognan, Graves with Premier Cru Classé classification. This is a separate chateau belonging to the owner "Domaines Clarence Dillon. It is located on the same street as Ch. Haut Brion in the middle of Bordeaux city in Pessac, across the street. The terroir, about 30ha in size, has practically the same characteristics as that of Ch. Haut Brion. Ch. La Mission Haut Brion and Ch. Haut Brion are often compared for the sake of having the same owner. Ch. La Mission Haut Brion usually tastes slightly rounder in its youth, but is certainly of exceptionally high quality.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion – La Chapelle 2010 (93/100 TSW)

Blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and  26% Cabernet Franc.
In the glass a deep garnet red color.
On the medium(+) aromas of greenish blackberries, plums and red fruits with hints of light cedar, thyme and licorice.
On the palate dry, full bodied with high acidity and firm but ripe tannins. Flavours are a recall of the nose with a nice freshness and a long finish.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2012 (94+/100 TSW)

Blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the glass a deep garnet red color.
On the medium(+) nose aromas of blueberries, strawberry compote and flowers with hints of scorched earth, sweet spices and tobacco.
On the palate dry, medium(++) bodied with medium grained tannins and medium(+) acidity and nice structure. Rich and full in the mouth with black fruits, dried roses, licorice, graphite, cigars, and burnt fertile earth and has a long, warm throaty finish.

Last but not least in line were the wines from Château Haut-Brion.

The Château Haut-Brion is one of the most famous wine estates in France. It has the appellation Pessac-Léognan, a region in Graves (Bordeaux), and is located between Pessac and the city of Bordeaux. Remarkably, the vineyard is almost entirely surrounded by the built-up area of Bordeaux. The winery is considered one of the oldest, having been known under its current name since the 17th century.

Château Haut-Brion is classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé under the Bordeaux wine classification system of 1855, and it is the only one with this classification in the Graves. The winery encompasses 42 hectares, and approximately 45% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot and 17% cabernet franc are grown. The second wine of the winery was first called Bahans Haut-Brion and since 2007 "Clarence de Haut-Brion."

Château Haut-Brion Le Clarence De Haut-Brion 2015 (93/100 TSW)

Blend of 57% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Cabernet Franc.
In the glass a medium(+) garnet purple color.
On the medium(++) nose aromas of blackberries, dark cherries and plums with hints of cigar box, cedar and spices.
On the palate dry, medium(++) bodied with lively acidity and nice round tannins. Flavours of dark fruit, spices, chocolate and earthy hints and a long finish.

Château Haut-Brion Premier Grand Cru Classé 2011 (95/100 TSW)
Blend of 35% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Cabernet Franc.
In the glass a medium(+) garnet red color.
On the medium(++) nose aromas of raspberries, dark cherries and young leather with hints of roses, vanilla and chocolate.
On the palate medium(++) bodied with round tannins and nicely balanced and elegant mouthfeel. Flavours of graphite, cigar box, earth, blackberries and underbrush. The finish is superbly long.

La Clarté De Haut-Brion 2016 (92/100 TSW)

This white wine from Haut-Brion is a blend of 76,3% Sémillon and the other part Sauvignon Blanc.
The first wine we tried was already very developed but the second bottle we opened was very nice.

In the glass a white golden color.
On the medium(++) nose aromas of lemon, pear and honey with hints of dried flowers, anise and some boxwood.
On the palate dry, medium bodied with crisp acidity and nice freshness. Flavours of white and yellow fruits with nice spiciness and a long finish.

It was a great tasting and the lunch was perfect.
Many thanks to Wijnkoperij Okhuysen and Domaine Clarence Dillon.