$19 Bordeaux with First-Growth Pedigree

Bordeaux Value with First Growth Pedigree

As Bordeaux goes, this is the class of the crowd. The 2017 Clarendelle Bordeaux Rouge emphasizes balance and elegance over jammy concentration or high alcohol. This red owes its finesse and structure to a thoughtful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. By carefully combining the strengths of each varietal, the oenologists at Domaine Clarence Dillon—along with the team at Clarence Dillon Wines—craft a wine of seamless harmony and character.

An underappreciated vintage, 2017 may not be the blockbuster that 2016 was, but it’s proving to be one of Bordeaux’s sleeper years. Despite early frosts in April and September rains, the successful wines are medium-bodied, elegant, and drinking beautifully now. Clarendelle is a prime example of what makes this vintage shine: ripeness without excess, concentration without weight, and lower alcohol levels that make it incredibly food-friendly.

Vintage Review, Wine Independent:
"Out of the recent retrospective tastings I’ve conducted this year—2005, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019—2017 was the biggest surprise. The best 2017 reds are elegant and approachable when young, yet, surprisingly, they are also built to age. This delicate yet age-worthy signature is something that Bordeaux hasn’t been able to nail in recent years."

From Previous Offers:
Always a brilliant value, Clarendelle’s exact vineyard sources are shrouded in mystery. Officially, it’s made from purchased fruit, as they’re not allowed to publicly mention Haut-Brion’s vineyards without navigating serious regulatory hurdles. But insiders know: fruit that doesn’t quite make the cut for Haut-Brion or La Mission Haut-Brion often ends up here.

This is Bordeaux with first growth DNA—treated with the same care, but bottled under a different label and price point. The result is classic, polished, and quietly refined Bordeaux.

91 Points, James Suckling
"Only ripe, blueberry and blackberry flavors with nice freshness and some healthy, supple tannins within the sleek frame, make this an immediately appealing red Bordeaux that’s very food-friendly. Drink or hold."