Bahans Haut Brion

Bahans Haut Brion

Classification: Second Wine of Château Haut Brion
Bahans Haut Brion is the second wine of the First Growth (Premier Cru) of Château Haut Brion. Located in the Graves region, it was the only non-Médoc estate to be included in the 1855 classification. The second wine is not grown on specific parcels - it's grown on the same land as the First Growth. Therefore it has the same origin, the same character, and the same originality as the Grand Vin. The difference between the two is that the second wine does not attain the same complexity and force – however coming from a stable such as Château Haut Brion this in no way means that Château Bahans Haut Brion plays second fiddle to its big brother – it's a great wine in its own right.. The second wine of Château Haut Brion takes the name "Bahans" from a family who in the past owned a small part of the Haut Brion estate. The name of this wine is to commemorate the historical contribution made by the Bahans family to the making of fine wine.

Château Haut Brion is the oldest and by far the smallest of the First Growth's vineyards and one of the few remaining family-owned domains of the Bordeaux region. Haut Brion produced the first wine sold under the name of its vineyard site in 1533. Château Haut Brion was founded by Jean de Pontac in the 15th century who enlarged the vineyards and built the château and began an illustrious dynasty - during the course of his 3 marriages, the last begun at the age of 76, fifteen children were born. Jean died at the age of 101, and his unusually long life spanned the reigns of Louis XII, François I, Henri II, Charles IX and Henri III.

François-Auguste de Pontac was the last Pontac to own Haut Brion through direct inheritance. He served as President of the Parliament in Bordeaux in 1653 and opened a tavern in London in 1666 to promote his wines, called the "Enseigne de Pontac", which became "...the most fashionable place in London..." in its time. The diarist Samuel Pepys wrote about the wines (he called them "Ho-Bryan") as did philosopher John Locke, Cardinal Richelieu and U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

After the French Revolution the château was purchased in 1801 by the Prince de Tallyrand who was in charge of foreign affairs under Napoléon. He often served the Haut Brion wine to his guests and he employed the wine to advance his many diplomatic efforts. Today Château Haut Brion is owned by Domaine Clarence Dillon S.A., who also own Château La Mission Haut Brion. The château is run by Prince Robert of Luxembourg and his mother the Duchesse de Mouchy, daughter of the Hon. Douglas Dillon, former Ambassador to France and Secretary of the Treasury under President Kennedy.

Formed by two gravel knolls the 109 acres of the Château Haut Brion vineyard rises 12 to 15 meters above the beds of two nearby streams - the Peugue to the north and the Ars to the south. The soil is full of pebbles of rock quartz and Jurassic flints. The grapes grown are 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. White varieties are also grown and they are 63% Semillon and 37% Sauvignon Blanc.

Wine Style
Château Bahans Haut Brion wines are medium to full bodied and well structured. They have a seductive perfume of plums, figs, tobacco, earth and blackcurrants. The wines are rich, rounded and although they can be enjoyed young they age well.

Owner: Domaine Clarence Dillon (also owns Châteaux La Mission Haut Brion and Laville Haut Brion)
Château Website: www.haut-brion.com
Oenologist: J-P Masclef