Gérard Blanloeil, Managing Director of ‘Clarendelle Wines inspired by Haut Brion’, a fine wine Bordeaux Négociant producing Clarendelle labels since 2005 was in Delhi on 14 December to conduct a Masterclass and a guided tasting of 10 wines from the 4 chateaux owned by the family of Prince Robert de Luxembourg, writes Subhash Arora who found the wines distributed by Sonarys extremely complex, palate friendly and surprisingly, ready to enjoy now though a majority would mature further.
Gérard Blanloeil, Managing Director of Clarendelle Wines inspired by Haut Brion was at the French Embassy Residence on 14 December after his previous visit in October 2018, to conduct a Masterclass and a Guided Tasting of 10 wines from the Clarence Dillon Wines (CDW) group, including the two top wines- Chateau Haut Brion 2014 (around $500-Source: Wine-Searcher) and Chateau La Mission Haut Brion 2014 (around $220).
CDW is the holding company owned by the descendent of New York banker Clarence Dillon- currently headed by Prince Robert de Luxembourg, who visited India 10 years ago in February 2023. Dillon had bought the oldest Bordeaux producer and the First Growth, Chateau Haut Brion in 1935, followed by acquiring its neighbour in Pessac- Léognan, Chateau Mission Haut Brion in 1983. The company is owned by the family of the late Dillon. His great-grandson, Prince Robert de Luxembourg is credited with adding Clarendelle inspired by Haut Brion in 2005 (though the work started in 2002).