Chateau Haut-Brion - A Legendary Wine

By Jono • January 7, 2008

Chateau Haut-Brion

I first tasted Chateau Haut-Brion when I worked vintage in Bordeaux in 2003. I worked at Chateau Carsin, a Finish owned Chateau. The larger than life owner, Juha Berglund, was extraordinarily passionate about food and wine, and we spent almost every night enjoying amazing dishes prepared by the imported Finnish chefs, as well as many of the best wines from around the world.

Of the many wines I was blown away by, Haut-Brion probably left the largest impression. I have always enjoyed complex whites, but I’m more than over the oak dominated bombs that many producers create these days. So to discover such a clear, pure complex wine in great balance, I was excited. The reds are crackers too!!

A few Australian producers are starting to develop similar stlyes, and two I would recommend investigating are Smithbrook Wines and Picardy Wines from Pembeton in the South-West of Western Australia.

For UK residents, you can find some of the best wines from the Pessac region and Haut-Brion at either at Laithwaites or ChateauOnline.

ChÃ¢teau Haut-Brion
Haut-Brion is located in the bustling suburb of Pessac on the outskirts of Bordeaux. This 45 hectare 1st Growth property was the only property outside of the MÃ©doc and Sauternes to be included in the 1855 Classification.

Vineyards: Haut Brion’s vineyards (Red: Cabernet Sauvignon 45%; Merlot 37%; Cabernet Franc 18%; White: SÃ©millon 63%; Sauvignon Blanc 37%) lie on large (up to 18 metres deep in places) gravel banks interspersed with clay. Vinification includes approx. 22 months’ wood ageing, 100% new oak.

Jean-Bernard Delmas, one of Bordeaux`s great characters, was rÃ©gisseur at Haut Brion from 1961 to 2004, his son, Jean-Philippe Delmas is now Directeur d’Exploitation and runs the property with the Managing Director, Prince Robert of Luxembourg. The entire Haut Brion portfolio, including La Mission Haut Brion and La Tour Haut Brion is overseen by this capable duo, under the watchful eye of President Directeur Generale, Duchesse de Mouchy.

Haut-Brion is characterised by its seductive perfume, harmony and elegance and its ability to age with grace and dignity. A superb white is also produced.

Below you can see where Haut-Brion is located in the Pessac appelation of Bordeaux in France.

To purchase various vintages of Haut-Brion you can visit Laithwaites UK here or ChateauOnline.

Categories: Blog, Wine Regions, Wine Reveiws
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About the Author

Jono

Jono has been involved in the wine industry since he was quite young. His parents had a small vineyard and winery in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, and spent plenty of school holidays working in the vineyard and winery. He completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) from the University of Adelaide (formely the Roseworthy Agricultural College). He also holds a Post Graduate Degree in Business Management from Monash University. His wine industry experience include working as a winemaker for Petaluma in the Adelaide Hills under the legendary Brian Croser. He was then sent to Smithbrook in the Pemberton region of Western Australia, then owned by Petaluma. He spent 6 years at Smithbrook managing the vineyard and winery, and during that time also completed a vintage at Chateau Carsin in Bordeaux. The two years leading into 2008, he traveled the world with his partner sampling the worlds best wines, and also fulfilling his other passion of equestrian competition.