A wine for the season: Domaine Clarence Dillon's Clarendelle Bordeaux

By April MacIntyre Dec 17, 2010, 6:10 GMT

Domaine Clarence Dillon is also one of the only American-owned wine companies in the Bordeaux region and the only Bordeaux company comprising four estate wines that enjoy the equivalent of a First Growth reputation and status around the world.

On December 8, in Los Angeles, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman, Domain Clarence Dillon wines, treated 75 guests to a formal dinner, prepared by Chef Thomas Keller, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the acquisition of Château Haut-Brion at the Vibiana Hotel in Los Angeles.

Domaine Clarence Dillon is also one of the only American-owned wine companies in the Bordeaux region and the only Bordeaux company comprising four estate wines that enjoy the equivalent of a First Growth reputation and status around the world.

In honor of this anniversary milestone, the family-owned company is hosting eight dinners in key cities around the world through 2011.

Quincy Jones, Princess Julie, Prince Robert

The first dinner was hosted in Paris this past June, followed by London, New York City, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo, with Los Angeles being the seventh.  The eighth and final dinner will take place in 2011 in Moscow.

Jennifer Aniston and Prince Robert

The dinner included a reception followed by a traditional French-style sit-down dinner where seven of the finest Domaine Clarence Dillon wines were served and paired with each course of the unique menu from Chef Keller. 

Adrien Brody & Tracee Ellis Ross

A guest list comprised of key figures from the worlds of art, fashion and design mingled with leading financiers and members of Los Angeles Society, including celebrities Jennifer Aniston, Quincy Jones, Sacha Baron Cohen, Adrien Brody, Tracee Ellis Ross, Debi Mazar, Marg Helgenberger, Lady Victoria Hervey, China Chow, Robbie Robertson, Amanda De Cadanet, Roman Coppola, Eddie Ruscha and more.

Chef Thomas Keller

Seven of the best varietals of Domaine Clarence Dillon wines were served including Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc 1993, Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc 2002, Chateau Haut-Brion 1989, 1976, 1949 and 2003 and Clarendelle Amberwine 2003.

These wines accompanied a menu of dishes designed to underline the exceptional character of Domaine Clarence Dillon’s wines. The Prince’s guests enjoyed Sweet Butter-Poached Maine Lobster Roll, Wolf Ranch White Quail, Carre d’Agneau de la ferme Elysian Fields, Andante Dairy Tome de la Vallee and Brown Butter Financier.

Domaine Clarence Dillon

Founded in 1935, the family-owned company Domaine Clarence Dillon turns out four wines with unparalleled reputations: the two great red wines and the two great white wines of Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion. For the most recent 2009 vintage Domaine Clarence Dillon was awarded the potential of 100/100 for all four estate wines by wine critic, Robert Parker.  All of Domaine Clarence Dillon’s singular expertise, backed by five centuries of tradition, finds its expression in its three families of wines.

Domaine Clarence Dillon launched Clarendelle in 2005, Bordeaux’s first super premium branded wine. In 2010, Domaine Clarence Dillon celebrates the 75th anniversary of Clarence Dillon’s acquisition of Château Haut-Brion. For more information, please visit: www.hautbrion.com; www.missionhautbrion.com; www.domaineclarencedillon.com

In a past interview with wine expert Jancis Robinson, Prince Robert explained his creation of Clarendelle. “We have great terroir and an extraordinary brainpool in Bordeaux – we just need a new, more attractive way of presenting our wines to the consumer. The New World has premium brands. Why shouldn’t we? Not that I want to make the same style. I’m not interested in making fruit-forward, jammy wines. I want to retain our own special character.”

What he has delivered in the 2005 Clarendelle Rouge, Grand Vin de Bordeaux is a reasonably priced great Bordeaux, and the 2005 Bordeaux vintage imparts a rounded rouge pour with hints of dark fruits, creamy intensity, power and complexity.

It's a wonderful gifting wine for the season, and compliments a perfect holiday roast dinner.  This wine is a blend of 82% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc grapes, it's deep burgundy purple hue is stunning in the glass, and the bouquet is what you would expect of a quality Bordeaux, pleasing and powerfully enticing.

Many wine experts who have rated this wine recommend salting away a case or three for the next two decades of imbibing,