Clarence Dillon Wines

Clarence Dillon Wines is a major fine wine merchant in Bordeaux that was founded in 2005 by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, great-grandson of the American financier Clarence Dillon. It's a fascinating story, really. Seventy years after his great-grandfather purchased the legendary Château Haut-Brion in 1935, Prince Robert decided to create a négociant business that would extend the family's wine legacy beyond their prestigious estates. The company represents and distributes some of the finest wines from Bordeaux, with privileged relationships with top producers and exceptional storage facilities that guarantee perfect provenance.

The merchant business sits within the larger Domaine Clarence Dillon family, which owns iconic estates including Château Haut-Brion, a 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé in Pessac-Léognan, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, acquired in 1983, and Château Quintus in Saint-Émilion, purchased in 2011. Prince Robert took over as chairman and CEO of the family group in 2008, continuing a tradition that spans four generations. The winemaking team is led by Jean-Philippe Delmas, who manages all the Clarence Dillon properties with the same attention to detail and pursuit of excellence.

The philosophy behind Clarence Dillon Wines is simple yet uncompromising: excellence without compromise. The company focuses on en-primeurs and in-bottle sales, benefitting from deep stocks of exceptional classified growths. In 2023, they expanded their portfolio to include prestigious cuvées from the Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy, showing their ambition extends beyond Bordeaux. The business combines tradition with innovation, always respecting the heritage of this family-owned firm while looking forward.

Clarence Dillon Wines is perhaps best known for creating and distributing Clarendelle, Bordeaux's first super-premium brand family of wines. Named after Clarence Dillon himself, Clarendelle was launched in 2005 and bears the inscription "Inspiré par Haut-Brion" on every bottle. The range includes red, white, rosé, and sweet wines from various Bordeaux appellations. The red is typically a blend of 82% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, though the blend varies by vintage. The white combines Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle from vineyards in Pessac-Léognan, Graves, and Entre-Deux-Mers. Starting with the 2014 vintage, the portfolio expanded to include appellation-specific wines like Clarendelle Médoc and Clarendelle Saint-Émilion. The style aims for subtle elegance and age-worthy wines that express Bordeaux terroir, crafted by the same team behind the First Growth estates and always containing a small proportion of wine from these grands vins.