Château Haut Brion 1er Grand Cru Classé 1988

Lot presentation

Château Haut Brion 1er Grand Cru Classé 1988

The wine

Served at the table of King Charles II in 1660, Château Haut-Brion has never stopped writing history since. This blend is made up of 45% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc with a hint of Petit Verdot. The harvests are manual, and the grapes are sorted several times throughout the process. Limited yields and a long maturation of 22 months in new oak barrels contribute to the production of this magnificent wine. Haut Brion develops velvety notes of ripe blackcurrant and has a mineral profile with legendary finesse. In its best vintages, it can be aged for several decades. Some of its vintages, such as the 1961 and the 1989, demonstrate how Château Haut Brion can figure among the best red wines in the world.

About the Producer Château Haut Brion

The prestigious Château Haut-Brion surprises by the number of first places it occupies in many situations. Created in 1553 by Jean de Pontac, Haut-Brion was the first wine of Bordeaux’s history to have the same name as the domain. At that time, the wines were sold anonymously. First chateau to practice techniques which are now unavoidable, such as racking or aging in oak barrels. Therefore, it will be the only classified Grand Cru in the Graves appellation in 1855, and is number 1 of course! There is no small vintage at Haut-Brion, owned by the Dillon family since 1935. In 1983, the Dillon family bought La Mission Haut-Brion, Haut-Brion's neighbour. It is always exciting to compare the different vntages of the property. In great vintages, it is perfectly able to age for several decades. Some vintages, such as the 1961 or 1989, show the incredible potential of Château Haut Brion, one of the greatest red wines in the world. The second wine of the chateau, formerly called Bahans, is now called Clarence de Haut-Brion.

Detailed characteristics