Haut Brion Blanc

Château Haut Brion Blanc 

Classification: Grand Cru
Chateau Haut Brion Blanc is one of the most sought after white wines in Bordeaux and as only 450- 650 cases are produced it is certainly one of the most rare.   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. Although grapes are thought to have been grown on the property since Roman times, the earliest document indicating cultivation of a parcel of land dates from 1423.  The château lies in Pessac Leognan, just 1 mile away from the city of Bordeaux and is the only non Médoc estate to be included in the 1855 classification.

Haut Brion's white wine is the embodiment of the vision of the Larrieu family, owners of the property for 3 generations between  1836 to 1923:obtaining the aromatic fullness of the finest dessert wines in a dry white wine.  Joseph-Eugène Larrieu bought Haut-Brion when it was sold at auction in 1836. In 1841, by buying the Chai-Neuf building from the Marquis de Catellan, he brought the estate back to the former size of the estate up until the death of François-Auguste de Pontac in 1694.

Joseph was rarely at Pessac, leaving Haut Brion in the hands of capable managers. His strategy helped to put Château Haut Brion among the first Grands Crus in 1855.  Joseph-Eugène's son, Amédée Larrieu, took over the Sauternes Chateau  Bastor Lamontagne in 1839 and brought a new dimension to growing white wine grapes to Haut Brion.  After studying law, Amédée spent two years in America, returning with "republican ideas".  Amédée  modernized the chais and began to develop the English market, continuing his father's work with the chateau.

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. Haut Brion is the only First Growth to be American-owned.

The vines that make Haut Brion Blanc cover 7 acres of the total 109 acres of Haut Brion vineyards.  These are formed by two gravel knolls which rise 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 52% Semillon and 47% Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Sauvignon Gris.

Wine Style
The wines of Haut Brion Blanc are round, luscious and full in style, fresh and clean on the palate with flavours of ripe pears, lime flowers, creamy passion fruit, caramel and chalk.  They can age up to 40 years and have a concentration and a depth which makes them stand out amongst other Bordeaux white wines.

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