Founded by Jean de Pontac in 1525, Haut Brion is emblematic of Bordeaux’s winemaking heritage.
A miraculous survivor of urban sprawl, the estate's micoclimate has become warmer over the years due to the proximity of the city of Bordeaux. As a result, grapes at Haut Brion are some of the earliest ripening in the Gironde, always a few weeks ahead of most other estates. This is a decided advantage, especially in years with poor autumn weather.
Château Haut-Brion's terroir consists of gravel and sand on a layer of clay and chalk.
Owners since 1935, the Dillon family is committed to conserving Haut-Brion’s impeccable standing with the help of the Delmas family, who have managed the estate for three generations.
Château Haut-Brion is extremely classic. Less flamboyant and concentrated than the Pauillac first growths (Latour, Lafite, and Mouton), Haut-Brion is closer to Château Margaux thanks to its finesse. However, its intrinsic Graves nature comes through with age, and a fine old bottle of Haut Brion has an aristocratic bouquet of complex, noble, and intense tertiary aromas. Haut-Brion absolutley requires aging to express its enormous potential.
The Château also produces a lesser-known dry white wine (extremely sought after by connoisseurs). Average annual production amounts to just 50-80 hectoliters (6,000-10,000 bottles). Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion is made of a blend from the selections of Sauvignon and Sémillon grapes that don't enter into the production of Château Haut-Brion white and Château Laville Haut-Brion.
