- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
Jeb Dunnuck
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Vinous
2019 Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, France
Superb deep crimson colour. At first, the bouquet is both subtle and intense, with ripe fruit notes.
The aromatic complexity of this wine comes to the fore with aeration.
Starts out wonderfully smooth and delicate on the palate, becoming full-bodied yet never aggressive.
The tannins are tight-knit, subtle and alluring, with no hardness whatsoever.
The finish is long and aromatic.
Haut-Brion surprises once again by achieving the perfect complementarity of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Harvest Dates: From the 10th September to the 3rd October
Blend: Merlot Noir: 48,7% ; Cabernet Sauvignon: 8,1% , Cabernet Franc: 43,2%
New barrels 79%
Alcohol 15%
Bottling date From May 17th to 20th 2021
Rouge : 8500 à 10200 caisses
HISTORY:
Jean de Pontac began constituting the Haut-Brion vineyard, in the Graves region, in 1525. His descendants went on to produce “New French Claret”, the precursor of today’s great red wines. Their efforts enabled Arnaud III de Pontac to sell his wine under the estate’s name as early as 1660. It gained a fine reputation and enormous success in London. The first of the Bordeaux great growths was born!
Haut-Brion’s history has been marked by many famous men: Count Joseph de Fumel (Field Marshal, Governor of the Province of Guyenne, and Mayor of Bordeaux), Talleyrand (Foreign Minister of Napoleon I, Emperor of France) and, more recently, C. Douglas Dillon (American ambassador to France and US Secretary of the Treasury during the Kennedy administration).
In 1961, Haut-Brion was the first of the great growths to use stainless steel fermentation vats, and continues to be in the forefront of innovation thanks to the meticulous selection of the ideal clones for each grape variety used at the estate.
Through the centuries, the owners and managers of Haut-Brion have been obsessed with perpetuating the château’s reputation for quality.
Classified a First Growth in 1855, Haut-Brion has done everything possible ever since then to maintain its standing.