Chateau Haut Brion

An exception with the 1855 determined classification of the Bordeaux area is Chateau Haut Brion, since the wine-growing estate resides by its situation in the area of the Graves not in the prescribed appellation. Due to its outstanding call to the time at that time, it created Haut Brion however to the classification to be taken up and reached beside Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour the rank Prime Minister of a Grand Cru Classé of plant. Since always the wines of the Chateau Haut Brion differ clearly from those from Margaux, Pauillac, pc. Julien and remaining haut the Médoc. In former times Haut Brion with its Ländereien was because of the edge of the city Bordeaux, nowadays this fundamentally changed, the large city further developed themselves and included finally the property Haut Brion completely. An individual microclimate which helps the wines of chateau Haut along supporting Brion and stores warmth of the town arose from it.

The vineyard situations on chateau Haut Brion are armed with 45 per cent Merlot, 40 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 15 per cent Cabernet franc. The complete area of Haut Brion therefore amounts to 42.50 hectares and counts the good to the small 1s cru classé goods. A very good second wine with names Bahans de chateau Haut Brion and a sensational white Graves is also restored to health as a Haut Brion Blanc on chateau haut Brion besides the outstanding first wine. The total output on Haut Brion amounts approximately addictedly to vintage and quality step, about 200,000 bottles at 0.75 each.

Historically seen the property was for the first time probably mentioned documentary of Chateau haut Brion 1423. Jean de Pontac, the owner of Haut Brion at time at that time, builds his property on the real estate of the property for 1550 and invested generously in progress and viticulture. He was an to be on the go man, always on the search for innovations for his wine-growing estate chateau Haut Brion. Besides this activity he was also a notary, Conseiller you Roi and president of the parlament of Bordeaux. After his death in 1589 went Haut Brion to his fourth son with names Arnaud II de Pontac. Some further changes of ownership in the family Pontac followed, until finally the French statesman Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord Haut Brion acquired 1801. Due to his job as statesman, he, however, could devote himself to the good Haut Brion only on the restricted scale and sold the estate already in 1804. Joseph-Eugene Larrieu bought chateau Haut Brion in 1836 on it followingly and decided to enclose the missing third with the good in 1841 at short notice again. In 1934, André Gibert wanted to offer the castle and the complete estate Haut Brion to the city of Bordeaux to gift under the term that furthermore viniculture on chateau haut Brion is done. Tough negotiations and political disputes took care in the end that Haut Brion was bought by C. Douglas Dillon. The Dillons are from an American bankers family and tried of the beginning to advance chateau Haut Brion further and to succeed with improvement measures. Jean-Philippe Delmas is leading the destiny of the house Haut Brion in third generation with bravado and dexterity at the moment. La mission Haut Brion and La tour Haut Brion, both also are outstanding wines with the best notes of all wine critics part of Haut Brion. Just La mission Haut Brion is a star in the Graves area and has produced legendary wines like the vintages 1945, 1947, 1953, 1959 and 1961.

Meanwhile, the best vintages on chateau Haut Brion were a very good 1945 1949 1953 a sensational 1961 a terrific 1985 and the best 1989 then 1959 under the grand Cru Classé plants. 1986 also is increased by reassessments classified more and more highly and is restraint and reserve after initial on the way to the star. Wine connoisseurs should slam thus straight shut here and secure themselves still bottles of the Chateau Haut Brion 1986. A rise in prices surely has soon to be expected!

Here some notes for the tasting of Haut Brion wines:

Chateau Haut Brion 1928
Haut Brion enjoys a rather a little doubtful reputation. At the first meeting, 1998 at Drawert, I have experienced him as great wine with terrific colour, youth and much strength. Then spare a rather terrible bottle a couple of months later. Unspent, thick, young colour, last 2000 on a test, fine, very elegant bouquet, gets painting umpteen with mocha with the time and solid acid at the palate very beautifully prevents the drinking pleasure, however. Applies to the largest part of the bottles: sniff but do not drink he is considerably too expensive for this anyway! At the great Haut Brion test in 2006 we had caught one of the very good copies again. Crazy colour, nose rushes about very thick and for a long time but also with a lot of acid and tannin with tar, smoke, soot and truffles at the palate without end. This one still did not seem right to be ready and to cry out for a further storage, incomprehensible – 97/100 (well up: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).

Chateau Haut Brion 1945
Very big Haut Brion. The most beautiful wine of the test 100/100 and a very big wine experience sweetens 1993 on the century test for me with his terrific one. Very large substance then paint something about highlight away, in 1997, at the astringent gains 96/100, and last 2000 again perfectly matured supermaterial, not Haut Brion typically with more malty sweet ones, keep itself mad in the glass, do not develop an amazing note of eucalyptus - and the most beautiful: a mad depot: jelly of blackberry purely. Also 2005 on a rarity test again. This was Haut Brion of the finest, a wine over which everything was simply correct from the classic nose over the palate up to the infinite passing. Perfection – 100/100 (Quelle: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).

Chateau Haut Brion 1959
Haut Brion. I have been allowed to drink him for the first time in 1990 with Hubi Scheidt New Year's Eves, there he was gigantic but still longest not on the highlight. Bouquet then got at the sample of a good wine friend in 1993 with a little Cigar box, immense length, much back advice and glaze, chocolaty, some coffee - 99/100. On similar standard in the same year with Jörg Müller in Sylt. Then 1997 with Willi Krähling the so far best bottle thinks wine can more lovely hardly be sweet, absolutely perfectly 100/100. 1998 in the Brussels Comme Chez Soi mad Cigarbox nose, became at the palate however easily acidity lasting, surely not the very best bottle, nevertheless - 96/100. 2000 in a great test on the highest standard against 61 only 2 nd winners. 2001 mature Graves in perfection with a wonderful Graves nose – 99/100. So far I meant that one, except in large sizes, who should not put luck to the test and drink the Haut Brion in the next years, becomes more beautiful he certainly not more. But a bottle drunk on the big Haut Brion test in 2006 last was so extraterrestrially good that I go on the search now, too. This was simply a randy substance, sweetens a creamy fruit, abundance, glaze. Who had poured me only this tiny puddle of this divine elixir? That is a wine to two-handed drinks from large containers and one of the large wine legends of our time – 100/100 (well up: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).

Chateau Haut Brion 1962
I very often drank Haut Brion, a wine, which presented itself to end of the 80's and at the beginning of the 90's similarly as today the everlasting 79er. After a few weaker 1teln then 2003 once again a fantastically beautiful Magnum – 93/100 (well up: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).

Chateau Haut Brion 1985
Parker (01.01.1998) : 94 Trinkreife : 1997-2010 This has always been one of the more seductive, savory, complex Haut-Brions of the eighties. My notes have always suggested that it is the quintessentially elegant, finesse-styled Haut-Brion. The color remains a deep ruby/purple with slight lightening at the edge. The knock-out nose of intense jammy black fruits, smoke, cedar, herbs, and new oak is followed by a generously concentrated, rich, gorgeously proportioned and layered Haut-Brion with no hard edges. Everything - alcohol, acidity, tannin - is beautifully integrated into the seamless personality of the 1985. Anticipated maturity: Now-2010. Last tasted 10/97.

Chateau Haut Brion 1986
With 94/100 I have set this one to very firm Haut Brion in the arrival tests at that time before La mission. I have drunk him 20 times well but not experienced correctly ripely yet since then. The last 5 bottles 2003 and 2004 showed a classical, perfect Pessac, something rustikal working by the still solid tannic, which after once again 5 years storage walk, could then a hard competitor for 89 become, constantly 95+/100. Like also 2006 on René Gabriels of big Haut Brion test. A classic locum tenens of his vintage. The solid tannin structure still makes him seem a little inaccessible and rustic at the moment. He almost seems a little contrary and arrogant. One clearly feels the tremendous potential and the enormous density. But up to correct drink-ripe, until the here surely possible 96/100 are reached, offense surely still well 5 years. He also was little fun in autumn 2006 that way, then and brilliant 86s Californian had difficulties very much after a parade (well up: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).

Chateau Haut Brion 1989
This one is part of the modern wine legends of our time for certain over Haut Brion drunk 20 times. After a small breather around the turn of the millennium in which this still youthful wine was a little locked, 100/100 are there in the glass last 2007 in the Braui now again without any ifs and buts. In the meantime nearly priceless, but nevertheless each cent worth (well up: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).