Château Haut-Brion is the only property outside the Médoc to be included in the 1855 Classification. Haut-Brion was also the first Bordeaux estate to bear its own name at a time when Bordeaux wines were sold anonymously. Resolutely innovative, it was also at Haut-Brion that practices such as oak barrel aging and racking were first implemented.

Although its character differs from its Médoc cousins, the potential of its gravel terroir is second to none.

Offering a blend where Merlot can reach 50% depending on the vintage, the style of Château Haut-Brion is definitively more approachable and silky in its youth. Featuring very ripe tannins and great aromatic finesse, this immense Pessac exhibits notes at maturity that range from game to forest floor, as well as spices—a resolutely seductive bouquet.

The property also produces a second wine: Le Clarence de Haut-Brion (formerly known as Bahans de Haut-Brion).

The white wine of Haut-Brion, produced in confidential quantities, is one of those wines that every enthusiast must taste at least once in their life.

In 1983, the Dillon family, owners of Haut-Brion since 1935, acquired La Mission Haut-Brion, a neighbor to Haut-Brion.

The name Haut-Brion is the first to be mentioned in the history of the Bordeaux region as a recognized growth. While it was long thought that the London official Samuel Pepys was the first to mention it in his writings in 1663, very recent research proves that the name "Aubrion" dates back to 1521! In those days, the estate was under the management of the de Pontac family. The estate remained in the hands of the de Pontac family until the beginning of the 19th century, when Napoleon's famous Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monsieur de Talleyrand, acquired it. Its illustrious owner would serve the great wine of Haut-Brion on grand occasions, consequently increasing the château's prestige tenfold.
Half a century later, the second World's Fair revealed the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux wines to the entire world; naturally, Château Haut-Brion appeared among the four best. The success of the Graves estate surprised no one, as it had long been appreciated and acclaimed by the finest palates, such as the American ambassador Thomas Jefferson, who could not praise this growth enough.
Today
The modern history of the château began in 1935 with the arrival of Clarence Dillon, a great New York financier, at its helm. While he had originally wished to get his hands on Château Cheval Blanc, his impatience and unfavorable weather conditions led him to turn toward Haut-Brion. Today, the château is still managed by the company "Domaine Clarence Dillon SAS." The involvement and investments of the Dillon family over the last century have allowed Haut-Brion to maintain its image as a Premier Grand Cru Classé, producing one of the best wines in the world every year.