Château Haut-Brion 2019

The harmony and complexity of an iconic Classified First Growth

The estate
The oldest of the Bordeaux First Classified Growths, 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 legendary story of Bordeaux fine wines through vintage after vintage of exceptional wines.

The vineyard
A true gem of the AOC Pessac-Léognan, located in the heart of the Pessac area of the Bordeaux region, 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.

The blend
Merlot (48,7%), cabernet franc (8,1%), cabernet sauvignon (43,2%).

The tasting
Tasted as a wine future, the Château Haut-Brion 2019 red displays a beautiful purple-red colour. The aromatic bouquet combines intensity and subtlety, perfuming the nose with complex and ripe fruit. Following the attack, this wine reveals a sensational smoothness on the palate. With great delicacy, the palate offers a tight and delicious tannic structure. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon come together to form a harmonious whole, lingering long on a remarkably fragrant finish. Reminiscent of the 1990, 2005 and 2010 vintages, the Château Haut-Brion 2019 red is undoubtedly one of the best success stories of the estate so far.