Located in the town of Pessac, just a few kilometres from Bordeaux, Château Haut-Brion – the first of the three estates acquired by the Dillon family – is the oldest winegrowing property in the region.

When he purchased Château Haut-Brion in 1935, Clarence Dillon restored it to its former glory and to the elite circle of the most legendary wines in the world. This extraordinary, bold, courageous vision is now continued by the fourth generation of the family, represented by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman since 2008. Château Haut-Brion’s vineyard is located in the commune of Pessac, just a few miles southwest of Bordeaux’s city center. It belongs to the Pessac-Léognan appellation, to the north of the Graves wine-growing region.

The property is situated just opposite that of Château La Mission Haut-Brion and shares the same gravelly and elevated terrain ideal for cultivating vines already referred to Haut-Brion on ancient maps and deeds. The nature of the gravel at Château Haut-Brion, consisting of small stones of various types of quartz, is a key element contributing to the particularly valuable wine-growing potential of the soil. The gravel soil lies on a single subsoil of clay, sand, limestone and falun (limestone shell) established at the end of the Tertiary era, then during the Quaternary era throughout the Ice Ages. From 20 centimetres to over 3 metres thick, the gravel deposits form slopes that enjoy excellent exposure, with natural drainage reinforced by a large hydrographic network of small water courses, as the Peugue or the Serpent, tributaries of the Garonne.

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Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc 2018

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Blend: Assemblage - Sauvignon 80,6% - Semillon 19,4%. The spring of 2018 was marked by frequent stormy weather. The growing season started very well, although was later slowed down as a result of a violent hailstorm on the 26th of May. The vines nevertheless recovered fairly quickly. The month of June was relatively warm, conducive to even flowering. A hot summer followed, with little rainfall. Véraison (colour change) took place under ideal conditions. A high-pressure system set in during the month of September. The grapes were picked under clear blue skies at peak ripeness and in excellent condition. Beautiful pale-yellow colour with green highlights. The nose is very intense, reminiscent of ripe Sauvignon Blanc. With aeration, the incredibly aromatic bouquet shows hints of citrus, mango and spice. This wine is powerful on the palate from the very first sip, going on to reveal a long, flavoursome aftertaste.