“The 2006 Haut Brion is a classic, elegant version of this cuvee, and while approachable, it is still young and relatively unevolved. Textbook Graves notes of smoky tobacco, cigar, leafy herbs, lots of earthy minerality, and a deep core of black fruits all emerge from this beauty. With medium to full-bodied richness and impressive mid-palate depth, it has fine, present tannin, impeccable balance, and a great finish. Drink this classic Haut Brion anytime over the coming two decades.”
~ Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes
Colour: Very deep red.
Aroma: The nose, at first reserved, opens up softly and slowly. Notes of minerals are followed by red berries, then an earthy whiff dominated by an aroma of fresh ground coffee beans.
Palate: Before you know it the wine charms you with all of its incredible complexity. The mouth is silky. The treatment of this vintage’s special tannins renders them astonishingly suave. Their freshness carries them along eventually towards an unending length on the palate. One will without a doubt need great patience to await the future when one can truly profit from the potential of this great vintage of Château Haut-Brion. At its best between ten and 20 years from the vintage.
Grape Varieties: 57% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc
Awards: 96pts Wine Enthusiast, 96pts – Wine Advocate-Parker, 95pts Jeb Dunnuck, 94pts – Wine Spectator, 93pts Wine&Spirits
History of Château Haut-Brion
Château Haut-Brion is the oldest of Bordeaux’s five first growths, and one of the most famous wines in the world. Located in Pessac-Léognan, south of the city of Bordeaux, the château is rather far removed from its counterparts, all of which are found in the Médoc.The Haut-Brion cuvée tends to have more Merlot than the wines from the Medoc, with Cabernet Sauvignon in more of a supporting role. As such, Haut-Brion is more rounded and softer than other Left Bank wines. The château describes the wine as having an empyreumatic bouquet.
The vineyard is planted to 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc. A stunning white wine is also made, from a part of the vineyard which is 63% Semillon and 37% Sauvignon Blanc. Production is smaller than at the other First Growth Wines, totalling about 20,000 cases, shared between the Grand Vin and a second wine, formerly called Bahans-Haut-Brion but changed in 2007 to Clarence de Haut-Brion in recognition of Clarence Dillon.
Production of Haut Brion Blanc is minute, less than 800 cases in most years. Beginning with the 2009 vintage a new white wine was introduced in the place of Clarence: La Clarté de Haut-Brion, the offspring of Domaine Clarence Dillon’s two prestigious white wines: Château Haut-Brion Blanc and Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc.