Château Haut-Brion

Identity

Château Haut-Brion is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Pessac, in the Gironde département. Its current owner is prince Robert du Luxembourg, through the company Domaine Clarence Dillon S.A.S. Jean-Philippe Delmas is the managing director, Jean-Philippe Masclef the technical director, Florence Forgas the cellar master, and Pascal Baratié the vineyard manager. The estate is distinguished as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Classification, being the only non-Médoc growth included.

History and Philosophy

Winegrowing history on the lands of Haut-Brion dates back to the 1st century AD, with the first recorded mention of wines named after their terroir occurring in 1521. The estate was established in 1525 by Jean de Pontac, who began construction of the château in 1549. In the 17th century, Arnaud III de Pontac contributed to the estate's renown, and the wines of Haut-Brion were recorded in the UK National Archives as early as 1660. Historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord shared close ties with the château. In 1935, Clarence Dillon acquired the estate. Technical innovations have marked its history, such as the introduction of stainless steel vats in 1961. The Pessac-Léognan appellation, in which the château is situated, was created in 1987. Prince Robert du Luxembourg became president in 2008. The estate joined the Primum Familiae Vini in 2018. Château Haut-Brion favours traditional vineyard management practices.

The Appellations

The parcels of Château Haut-Brion are situated in the northern part of the Graves wine region of Bordeaux, in the commune of Pessac. The estate produces wines under the Pessac-Léognan appellation.

Winemaking and Ageing

Harvesting is performed by hand, followed by sorting and destemming of the grapes. Maceration and fermentation last around two weeks. Ageing takes place in new oak barrels over a period of 18 to 20 months, with regular rackings throughout this phase.

Practical Information

Château Haut-Brion is located at 135 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 33600 Pessac. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 00 29 30 and by email at info@haut-brion.com. Visits and tastings are by appointment only and can be conducted in German, English, French, and Norwegian. The cellar is open Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, and on Friday from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

Find out more

Official website of the estate

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château Haut-Brion spans a total area of 52.82 hectares, of which 49.89 hectares are dedicated to red grape varieties and 2.93 hectares to white grape varieties. The average vine age is 38 years, and 37 years for the red vines. The soils consist of gravel resting on a subsoil of clay, sand, limestone, and faluns, with west-facing ridges composed of white sand blended with gravel. Harvesting is carried out by hand. The estate holds the HVE-3 environmental certification.

The grape varieties for the red wines comprise Cabernet Sauvignon (41% or 42%), Merlot (48% or 46%), Cabernet Franc (10% or 11%), and Petit Verdot (1%).

For the white wines, the grape varieties are divided between Sémillon (53% or 52%) and Sauvignon (47% or 48%), including Sauvignon blanc and gris.

Flagship Cuvées

Château Haut-Brion produces both red and white wines. The principal red and white cuvées both bear the name Château Haut-Brion. The second red wine is Le Clarence de Haut-Brion (formerly Château Bahans Haut-Brion until 2007), and the second white wine is La Clarté de Haut-Brion (formerly Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion until 2009). The estate's wines are renowned for their complexity and ageing potential.