Château Haut-Brion — A Timeless Legacy from Graves
Owner: Domaine Clarence Dillon
Region: Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France
Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé (1855)
Vineyard Area: 51 hectares (48 ha red, 3 ha white)
Average Vine Age: 35 years
Soil Type: Topsoil of gravelly sand and stones, underlaid by clay and sand-rich subsoil
Harvest: Hand harvested
Annual Production: 10,000–12,000 cases (red), 450–650 cases (white)
Red Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 45%, Merlot 40%, Cabernet Franc 15%
White Blend: Sauvignon Blanc 47.4%, Sémillon 52.6%
Website: www.haut-brion.com
Email: info@haut-brion.com
Address: 33608 Pessac, Bordeaux, France
Phone: +33 5 56 00 29 30
🏰 Estate Overview
Château Haut-Brion is one of the five prestigious First Growths classified in 1855 and uniquely, the only one located outside the Médoc region. Situated in Pessac-Léognan, within the Graves appellation, it represents the epitome of finesse, structure, and timeless elegance. Today, the estate belongs to the Domaine Clarence Dillon group, a family deeply committed to preserving its grandeur.
📜 A Storied History
With origins tracing back to the 14th century, Château Haut-Brion is considered Bordeaux’s oldest First Growth. Its story truly began in 1533, when Jean de Pontac acquired the estate and built the château that still stands today. Under the Pontac family’s stewardship, Haut-Brion became a benchmark for quality winemaking—so much so that it was praised by Samuel Pepys in 1663 as “a wine of extraordinary excellence,” marking one of the earliest written wine reviews in history.
In 1935, the estate entered a new era when American financier Clarence Dillon acquired it. Captivated by its beauty and wines during a serendipitous visit to Bordeaux, Dillon revitalized the vineyards, restored the château, and modernized operations. His vision transformed Haut-Brion into one of the first Bordeaux estates to adopt stainless-steel fermentation tanks, a groundbreaking innovation at the time.
Clarence Dillon’s legacy continued through his son, C. Douglas Dillon—U.S. Ambassador to France and later Treasury Secretary under President John F. Kennedy—who elevated the estate’s prestige on the world stage. Today, the Dillon family remains at the helm, ensuring Haut-Brion’s spirit of excellence endures.
🌱 Vineyard and Terroir
Château Haut-Brion’s 51 hectares of vineyards lie on the gravelly soils of Pessac-Léognan, a terroir renowned for its exceptional drainage and heat retention. The unique mix of gravel, clay, and sand creates ideal conditions for both red and white varieties. The red vines—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc—yield wines of deep complexity and refined balance, while the white vines—Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon—produce one of Bordeaux’s most admired dry whites, Château Haut-Brion Blanc.
🍇 Winemaking and Style
Every grape is handpicked and carefully sorted before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. The red wines are matured for 18 to 24 months in French oak barrels, about 75% of which are new. This meticulous process imparts layers of aromas—blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, and earthy minerality—resulting in wines that age gracefully for decades.
The estate also produces the distinguished second wine, Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, offering a glimpse of the Grand Vin’s character in a more approachable style.
🍷 Wine Character
Château Haut-Brion wines are celebrated for their harmonious balance of power and elegance. The reds are complex and velvety, revealing dark fruit, graphite, and smoky undertones. The whites, on the other hand, are opulent yet precise, marked by citrus, white flowers, and a subtle honeyed texture. Both red and white embody a sense of quiet strength and sophistication unique to this legendary estate.
📞 Contact Information
Address: 33608 Pessac, Bordeaux, France
Website: www.haut-brion.com
Email: info@haut-brion.com
Phone: +33 5 56 00 29 30
* Photo Courtesy of haut-brion.com