History
Château Haut-Brion's history dates back to the first century AD, with the first vines appearing on its gravel hillsides. The earliest written mention of a wine produced from these soils is from 1521. The estate was acquired by Jean de Pontac in 1525 through his marriage to Jeanne de Bellon, who brought the land as her dowry. Pontac began building the château in 1549 and continued to perfect the vineyard, expanding and renovating the estate.
Over the centuries, Haut-Brion's reputation grew. In 1660, the wine was served at King Charles II's court, marking its success in London. The estate was classified as a Premier Grand Cru in 1855, alongside Château Latour, Château Margaux, and Château Lafite-Rothschild. After a series of less prosperous periods, Clarence Dillon acquired the château in 1935, restoring it to its former glory and integrating it into the elite circle of legendary wines. The fourth generation of the Dillon family continues to manage the estate, with Prince Robert of Luxembourg serving as Chairman and CEO since 2008.
Terroir
Château Haut-Brion's terroir is characterized by deep gravel soils, which are crucial for the exceptional expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. These gravels are interspersed with pockets of clay, particularly important for the cultivation of high-quality Merlot. The unique combination of soil types, including gravel, clay, sand, limestone, and shelly sand, contributes to the wine-growing potential of the soil. The gravelly soils form mounds with excellent orientation and slopes that ensure natural drainage, further enhanced by a large hydrographic network of small watercourses like the Peugue and the Serpent, tributaries of the Garonne.
The vineyard stretches across 51 hectares, with 48 hectares planted with red grape varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot) and about 3 hectares devoted to white grape varieties (Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Gris). The property's grounds also include a wooded area of 4 hectares, featuring a park of 3.5 hectares that is home to a diverse variety of birds, some of which are protected species. This diverse habitat is crucial for the ecological corridors and biodiversity reservoirs of Bordeaux’s urban area.
