Château Haut-Brion 2010

A First Grand Cru Classé of Pessac-Léognan with an alluring elegance and complexity

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 benchmark among the finest Pessac-Léognan wines and located in the heart of the Pessac area, Château Haut-Brion enjoys an exceptional terroir and rests on 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

The year 2010 was marked by a particularly dry climate throughout the vegetative period. Despite these extreme conditions, the lack of water favoured increased the grapes’ sugar levels. As the harvest approaches, the temperature variations between hot days and cool nights are ideal conditions for refining the ripening of the grapes.

The blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (57%)
Merlot (23%)
Cabernet Franc (20%).

Château Haut-Brion 2010: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour
This wine showcases a beautiful ruby red colour with purple highlights.

Nose
When aerated, the nose reveals delicious woody and fruity fragrances (red fruits) but also more complex notes of cocoa powder, roasting and cigar.

Palate
A soft attack precedes a dense palate with fine tannins. This 2010 vintage is the synthesis of the 1989 for its complexity, the 2000 for its structure, the brilliance of the 2005 and the 2009 for its full body.