Château Haut-Brion, Premier Grand Cru Classé (1st Growth), Pessac-Léognan

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Château Haut-Brion is a Premier Grand Cru Classé (First Growth) located in Pessac just south of the city of Bordeaux. Of the five first growths, it is the only one outside of Medoc.

It is also known to be the oldest continual vineyard entity in Bordeaux and one of the first Bordeaux major estates to bottle its own wine.

 

In 1935, the American banker Clarence Dillon bought the estate. From the 1958 vintage, the Château began using its distinctive bottle design.

 

In 1976, the 1970 vintage of Haut-Brion ranked fourth among the ten French and California red wines in the “Judgment of Paris” wine competition.

 

Château Haut-Brion has 48.35 hectares planted with red grape varieties: 45.4% Merlot, 43.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.7% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, and 2.87 hectares with white grape varieties: 52.6% Sémillon, and 47.4% Sauvignon Blanc. With 51 hectares of planted vines, Château Haut-Brion is the smallest of the five first growths.

In addition to the grand vin, Haut-Brion produces a red second wine called Le Clarence de Haut-Brion (Château Bahans Haut-Brion before 2007 vintage). The estate also produces a dry white wine named Château Haut-Brion Blanc, and a second dry white wine named La Clarté de Haut-Brion (Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion before 2008).

 

The yearly usual production of Château Haut-Brion red wine is from 10,000 to 12,000 cases, and from 650 to 850 cases for Château Haut-Brion Blanc.

 

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Photos courtesy of Chateau Haut-Brion

Photos credit: Domaine Clarence Dillon