Château Bahans Haut-Brion 2000 (Pessac-Léognan) – A beautifully mature and refined second wine from the legendary Château Haut-Brion. Smoky aromas of blackcurrant, cigar box, and truffle unfold into a silky, elegant palate with layers of berry fruit, spice, and earthy complexity. Graceful, supple, and perfectly evolved, it captures the hallmark depth and finesse of its First Growth sibling in a more approachable form.

The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Jun 29, 2010
Drink: 2010-2016

The 2000 Bahans Haut-Brion is fully mature, but I had indicated that back in 2003, giving it an anticipated maturity date of 2005-2016. Its smoky, soft berry fruit and notes of fresh porcini mushrooms intermixed with cigar tobacco and black currants are complex. This complexity is followed by a fleshy, elegant, silky wine to drink over the next 5-6 years. Haut-Brion can be among the trickiest Bordeaux to taste young, often needing a full decade before the extraordinary complexity that marks this terroir begins to emerge. I was thrilled to see how well both the second wine, Bahans Haut-Brion, and Haut-Brion performed in this tasting, and both scores are slight upgrades.

Wine Spectator | WS 90
Published: Mar 31, 2003
Drink: 2010-2016

Berry, tobacco and coffee aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with lots of flavor and a silky and luscious finish. A tasty second wine. Best after 2007.

Haut-brion.com

Similar in style and elegance to its elder, the Château Haut-Brion red, this second wine brings together all the unique attributes of a fine wine, while reaching maturity more quickly. This wine has carried the name Château Bahans Haut-Brion since the first years of the twentieth century and was renamed Le Clarence de Haut-Brion beginning with the 2007 vintage, as a tribute to Clarence Dillon, who acquired the property in 1935.

- 2000 - 

Tasting notes
This wine is a deep, purplish-red in the glass, with brilliant highlights.
Initially slightly reserved on the nose, it developed fascinating complexity on aeration.
Fresh red-berry fruit was accented by hints of spicier aromas, such as cocoa.
The initial impression was very soft and soothing on the palate, but the tannic structure gradually affirmed its presence, combining firmness with great finesse.
This wine confirmed our assessment from recent vintages that Le Clarence de Haut-Brion can certainly be considered a great wine.

Blend
Merlot: 52%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 36%
Cabernet Franc : 10 %
Petit Verdot : 2%