Château Haut-Brion is the oldest and smallest of the four First Growth Properties classified in the 1855 classification of the Gironde wines. One of the most expensive and prestigious wines in France, it is located in Pessac, only 2 kilometers south-west of the city of Bordeaux. Located in the Graves region, it was the only non-Medoc estate to be included in the famous 1855 classification. The wines produced at Château Haut Brion have consistently remained worthy of their status as a Premier Grand Cru Classé and this is widely recognized by connoisseurs throughout the world.
Château Haut-Brion dates back to 1525 when Jean de Pontac married Jeanne de Bellon, who brought to him in her dowry the land of Haut-Brion. Chateau Haut-Brion was the first recorded First Growth to be imported to the United States, when Thomas Jefferson purchased six cases during his French travels and had them sent back to his estate in Virginia.
The wine has a complex bouquet of ripe fruit, tobacco, mineral, and earthy scents. The wine is rich, ripe, medium to full-bodied, and well-structured. It is a wine that seems to balance power and elegance and richness, going very well with beef, lamb, veal and game. Château Haut-Brion is planted with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. The chateau also produces Château Haut-Brion Blanc, a white wine 63% Semillion, 37% Sauvigon Blanc.
Appellation: Pessac Leognan
Areas under Vine: 109 acres
Average Annual Production: 10,000 cases per annum
Soil: Gravel soil with a subsoil of clay and sand
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (20%)
Ageing: Aged in new oak barrels for 24-27 months
Top Vintages: 1945, 1959, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005 |
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