CHATEAU HAUT-BRION

Premier Grand Cru Classé | First Growth

Château Haut-Brion occupies a unique place in Bordeaux. Located in Pessac-Léognan, just southwest of the city of Bordeaux, it is the only estate outside the Médoc to have been ranked as a First Growth in the 1855 Classification. Its history stretches back far beyond that distinction: wine from the Haut-Brion terroir is documented as early as 1521, while Jean de Pontac acquired the estate in 1533 and began construction of the château in 1549.

By the 17th century, Haut-Brion had already achieved international renown. Its wines were served at the court of Charles II in England, and in 1663 Samuel Pepys famously recorded drinking a wine he called “Ho Bryan”, praising its distinctive character. This early recognition helped establish Haut-Brion as one of the first Bordeaux estates to develop a reputation under its own name.

The estate entered its modern era in 1935, when American financier Clarence Dillon purchased the property and began an extensive programme of restoration and investment. The Dillon family remains closely involved today through Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman and CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon. Equally important has been the Delmas family, whose successive generations—Georges, Jean-Bernard and Jean-Philippe—have overseen winemaking and helped shape Haut-Brion’s reputation for precision, consistency and innovation.

Haut-Brion’s vineyards are unusual for their urban setting, surrounded by the suburbs of Bordeaux yet rooted in the deep gravel soils that define the Graves. The estate has around 51 hectares under vine, with most devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, alongside a small area of white varieties, principally Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

The red Grand Vin is renowned for combining depth and longevity with an unusually supple texture. Its character is unmistakably Graves: dark fruit, tobacco, cedar, earth, smoke and mineral complexity. The precise blend varies by vintage, allowing the estate to respond closely to the conditions of each growing season.

Few Bordeaux properties unite historical importance, technical accomplishment and stylistic individuality so completely. From its 16th-century origins and early fame in England to the stewardship of the Dillon and Delmas families, Haut-Brion remains one of the clearest and most distinguished expressions of the gravel soils of the Graves.