Château Haut-Brion 2019

The harmony and complexity of an iconic Classified First Growth

The estate

The oldest of the Bordeaux Grand Crus, Château 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 Château 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 Château 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 recognised as a Classified Growth in the Official Wine Classification of the Graves in 1959, Château Haut-Brion continues to contribute to the legend of the great wines of Bordeaux - and internationally - by confirming, vintage after vintage, its unwavering success.

The vineyard

A true gem of the AOC Pessac-Léognan, located in the heart of the Pessac area, Château Haut-Brion boasts an exceptional terroir with soils composed of multicoloured 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 Château 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 Château 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.

Blend

Merlot (48,7%)
Cabernet Franc (8,1%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (43,2%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château Haut-Brion 2019

Tasting

Colour
The wine is of a beautiful crimson red colour.

Nose
Combining intensity and subtlety, the aromatic bouquet delights with its complexity and the ripeness of the fruit.

Palate
Right from the attack, the palate is enchanted by the smoothness of the substance. The wine develops delicately on the palate, revealing a tight and deliciously bewitching tannic structure. The Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon form a harmonious and complementary whole, stretching out into a remarkably fragrant finish. Reminiscent of the 1990, 2005 and 2010 vintages, Château Haut-Brion 2019 red is certainly one of the estate's finest successes.