Inspired by Haut-Brion, Clarendelle wines are the best of Bordeaux
From a pink showpiece rosé to an elegantly candied amberwine, these five bottles are the perfect cross-section of the winemaking region
Words: Jonathan Wells
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Clarendelle is not so much a brand of premium Bordeaux wine as it is an unabashed, heartfelt celebration of the region. Founded by Prince Robert of Luxembourg in 2005, Clarendelle celebrates the extraordinary terroirs of southwestern France, the legacy of Prince Robert’s great-grandfather, Clarence Dillon, and the simple, pleasurable practice of enjoying a glass of good wine.
Inspired by Château Haut-Brion, Prince Robert’s Clarendelle is a snapshot of the region; a cross-section of Bordeaux bottled and presented in a neatly curated collection. Created using traditional Bordeaux grapes, these blended bottles efficiently demonstrate why this winemaking region is so revered around the world — and a case offers the perfect snippet of the sun-soaked province.
Clarendelle Rouge is not just any red wine
Think of a classic red and you’ll hear noise — a big bombastic bottling with deep, rich flavours and a blood red colour. Clarendelle’s Bordeaux-made offering, however, is a little more refined. Rather than going for power, it perfects the balance and elegance of considerably more rarefied wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc swirl together to create the Rouge — a quiet symphony of dark fruits and chocolate. It is rich, but not overpowering. It has soft tannins, well-balanced acidity and a savoury character — and ends on spicy tobacco notes.
Clarendelle Médoc sports a sophisticated palate
Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, Clarendelle’s Médoc is fine, elegant and moderately coloured — and, while rather tannic in its infancy, it transforms into a harmonious, well-balanced bottling with age.
A truly sophisticated pour, the Médoc has oaky nuances and a fresh fruitiness on the palate, with hints of dark fruits from blackcurrant to blackberry infusing their flavour into its concentrated bouquet.
Clarendelle Blanc takes inspiration from its cousins
Domaine Clarence Dillon owns some of the world’s most prestigious estates. Including properties such as Château La Mission Haut-Brion, these wines have set the gold standard for the industry — and Clarendelle has been taking notes. And the Clarendelle Blanc has all the complexity and mystery of its illustrious cousins.
Clean and youthful, the Blanc has herbaceous hints and overwhelming citrus flavours. With a dry palate and creamy texture, it’s a wine polished and structured beyond its years — thanks to a clever blend of two traditional Bordeaux grape varieties, Sémillon and Sauvignon.
Clarendelle Rosé is Domaine Clarence Dillon’s pink showpiece
A popular Bordeaux wine of the past, Clairet, was dark pink in colour and full bodied in style. The first rosé to appear in the history of Domaine Clarence Dillon, Clarendelle Rosé celebrates this lost variation by blending Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
It is a delicate, subtle and utterly harmonious bottling — with a beguiling floral nose and aromas of violets, roses, raspberries and strawberries. The creamy texture and long finish are indicative of the Clairets of yesteryear; a fitting homage to the region the Clarendelle range epitomises.
Clarendelle Amberwine is an impossibly elegant offering
A virtuosic blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle grape varieties, Clarendelle’s Amberwine is as subtly structured as Bordeaux bottlings come. The signature character is achieved by combining two types of ripening grapes; Botrytis Cinerea and late harvest — and takes on its deep golden colour after ten years of ageing.
And this ageing process improves more than just the colour. Aromas of candied fruits, orange blossom and fruits from peaches to pineapples come through on the nose. The age gives the texture a smooth, elegant sweetness on the palate and a finish as long and languid as those years it spent in the barrel.
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