Château Haut-Brion 2022

An ample and beautifully complex Pessac-Léognan Premier Grand Cru Classé

The estate

The oldest of Bordeaux's Grand Crus, Château Haut-Brion boasts a rich heritage built on 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, an English member of parliament, unknowingly contributed to the success of Château Haut-Brion through his diary, writing: "…and there (I) drank a sort of French wine called Ho Bryan, that hath a good and most particular taste that I never met with. " The legend was born. First Grand Cru Classé outside the Médoc in 1855 and recognised as a Cru Classé in the Official Classification of Graves Wines in 1959, Château Haut-Brion continues to write the legend of the world's greatest wines, confirming its exceptional consistency vintage after vintage.

The vineyard

A benchmark among the great wines of Pessac-Léognan and located in the heart of the Pessac urban area, Château Haut-Brion boasts an exceptional terroir on soils composed of multicoloured gravel, producing sumptuous, elegant, precise wines that are incredibly consistent from one vintage to the next.

The vintage

The winter began with heavy rainfall, ideal for replenishing water reserves, and from February onwards saw mild weather that advanced early budburst. The frost in April had a minimal impact on the vineyards, before a mild May. Flowering was uniform and of good quality. Rainfall in June compensated for the lack of water before a particularly hot, dry summer. Despite these conditions, the vines held up ideally, supported by the expertise of the teams and the adaptation of viticultural practices. The harvest for the 2022 vintage began on 17 August for the whites, the earliest since 2003. Harvesting of the reds began on 29 August. The health of the vineyards was exceptional.

Winemaking and ageing

Ageing in barrels (62.9%).

Blend

Merlot (53,6%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (35,4%)
Cabernet Franc (11%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château Haut-Brion 2022

Tasting

Colour
La robe séduit par sa profondeur. The colour is beautifully deep.

Nose
Expressive, the nose reveals a beautiful fruity structure reflecting the optimal ripeness of the grapes.

Palate
An ample and precise attack gives way to an enveloping and generous palate.