Chateau Haut-Brion 2019

The freshness and power of a rare and sought-after Bordeaux white wine

The estate
The oldest of the Bordeaux Classified Growths, Chateau Haut-Brion boasts a rich legacy built over five centuries of history. Founded in 1533 by Jean de Pontac in the Graves region, the wines of Chateau Haut-Brion were soon coveted and appreciated by the greatest monarchs of Europe. In 1663, Samuel Pepys, a member of the English Parliament, participated - without knowing it - in the success of Chateau Haut-Brion, by writing in his diary, "And there, I drank a kind of French wine called Ho-Bryan which had a very particular taste, one I’ve never experienced before... ". And the legend was born. The only First Classified Growth of 1855 not situated in the Médoc and also recognized as a Classified Growth in the Official Wine Classification of the Graves in 1959, Chateau Haut-Brion continues to contribute to the legendary story of Bordeaux fine wines through vintage after vintage of exceptional wines.

The vineyard
A true gem of the AOC Pessac-Leognan, located in the heart of the Pessac area of the Bordeaux region, Chateau Haut-Brion boasts an exceptional terroir with soils composed of multicolored gravel, the source of sumptuous, elegant and precise wines that are incredibly consistent from one vintage to the next.

The vintage
A memorable vintage in every way, 2019 will also be very special for Chateau Haut-Brion as it is the 96th vintage produced by the Delmas family. 2019 is also the last vintage for Jean-Philippe Delmas' father, who has been at Chateau Haut-Brion for 43 harvests. Particularly hot and dry, the 2019 vintage produced a fabulous wine. The ripening of the white grape varieties went smoothly and the rain in September helped speed up the ripening process of the red grape varieties. The harvest began on August 29 for the white grape varieties and on September 10 for the red grape varieties, revealing a fruit with superb quality.

The blend
Sauvignon blanc
(64.4%), sémillon (35,6%).

The tasting

With only 400 cases produced per vintage, the Chateau Haut-Brion white is an exceptional wine, rare and highly sought-after by wine lovers around the world. Tasted as a wine future, the Chateau Haut-Brion white 2019 displays a beautiful pale yellow color. The aromatic bouquet is marked by a very “Sauvignon Blanc nose” at the beginning, offering great ripeness and freshness. Swirling the wine gradually releases the complex personality of Semillon. The attack reveals a deliciously full-bodied, tasty and powerful texture. The evolution on the palate continues into a finish of incredible length, leaving behind some spicy flavors. Reminiscent of the 1993 and 2017, the Chateau Haut-Brion blanc 2019 will no doubt help write the history of this prestigious estate.