Château Haut-Brion’s origins date back to the early 16th century, making it one of the oldest classified estates in Bordeaux. The estate was initially founded by Jean de Pontac in 1549, who recognized the exceptional quality of the land and its potential for viticulture. The name “Haut-Brion” is derived from the old Gascon term meaning “high place,” referring to the elevated vineyard site. In the 1855 Bordeaux classification, Château Haut-Brion was the only estate from the Graves region to be classified as one the five First Growth producers.
In 1935, Château Haut-Brion was acquired by the American banker Clarence Dillon. Later in 1939, he turned it into a hospital to accommodate the wounded officers of the French army. Since then, the property is still part of the same family, but winemaking is now the only activity of the esate. Dillon’s great-grandson, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, now runs the estate, but a key influence in the reputation which Haut-Brion enjoys today is the Delmas family. George Delmas was manager and winemaker until 1960, when his son Jean-Bernard took over. Jean- Bernard was a visionary figure, responsible for a number of important innovations, and on his retirement in 2003 his son Jean-Philippe took over as Directeur Générale.
This storied history is not the only reason for Haut-Brion's fame, this producer has consistently made one of the best dozen wines in Bordeaux each decade for the last 7 decades. Whether it is fully mature vintages like 1955, gracefully ageing perfect examples like 2010 or the bulletproof 1989 vintage that has received a 100-point rating from Robert Parker Jr more than 9 times. The legacy of Haut-Brion is one of uncompromising consistency, unmatched longevity and stratospheric quality that will forever represent the pinnacle of Bordeaux wine production.
