Chateau Haut Brion
Premiers Crus
Haut-Brion is Bordeaux’s most consistently brilliant cru classé - even in average years, it never lets you down. And while the wine’s longevity is proverbial, it’s also exquisite when sampled young. Known for its exceptionally silky tannins, it’s the most complex Bordeaux from an aromatic standpoint and is noted for combining power with finesse. Rare are the wines that successfully reconcile two such contradictory qualities. Rarer still are those that have been doing it for centuries.
So what are the elements that go into this magical alchemy Haut-Brion’s microclimate partially explains the property’s uniqueness. Thanks to urban expansion, the vineyard now runs up to the edge of the Bordeaux suburbs. Its location gives it one of the area’s warmest and most precocious terroirs, a fact that has favoured it in numerous vintages. Haut-Brion’s unique terroirconsists of small gravel and white quartz pebbles resembling Jordan almonds; some say they are what give the wine its extraordinary delicacy. Not surprisingly, the terroir benefits from excellent natural drainage.
This 45 hectare first growth property was the only property outside of the Médoc and Sauternes to be included in the 1855 classification. The estate is undoubtedly still making wine that merits this status. In fact the vintages from 1978 onward have proved to be among the finest wines produced in Bordeaux. Classic Haut-Brion’s typical characteristics include some smokiness, black fruit, black currant liqueur and cigar box aromas. |
