The oldest of Bordeaux’s five first growths and the only property outside the Medoc to be included in the 1855 Classification, Chateau Haut-Brion was founded by Jean de Pontac in 1533. The name derives from the Celtic word briga, meaning “hill” or “high place”, and refers to the gravelly elevated terrain situated between the Le Peuge and Le Serpent streams.

History shows that as early as 1660, Haut-Brion wines were already appreciated at royal tables as evidenced by the purchase of 169 bottles by King Charles II of England, noted in the royal cellar book. Among the wine’s admirers are the famous London diarist Samuel Pepys, and Thomas Jefferson, who had distinguished the wine’s quality long before the 1855 Classification.

Arnaud III de Pontac was responsible for building the estate’s international reputation and for creating a new style of wine that is the basis for all currently classified growths - an era which historians have described as a revolution in winemaking.

Chateau Haut-Brion was acquired by the American financier Clarence Dillon on May 13, 1935 and has been managed by the same family since. Much of the estate’s success is also credited to the Delmas family, who have worked the estate for three generations. Nearly five centuries after the creation of its vineyard and 350 years after the first published mention under its current name, Chateau Haut-Brion remains one of the finest wines in the world today.

Haut-Brion’s grand vin is the embodiment of five centuries of tradition and plays a pivotal role in the worldwide history of wine. It is the oldest of the Bordeaux classed growths, the inventor of a new style of wine fashioned in the seventeenth century, and considered the world’s first luxury brand.

Typically more Merlot dominant than other Left Bank wines, the terroir of Haut-Brion is expressed through its empyreumatic bouquet (Havana cigars, chocolate, roasting, cedar wood, and so on). The attack is restrained, with precise yet exceedingly soft tannins. But the power of this wine is revealed in the surprising long mid-palate and even longer finish.

Introducing the 1982 Haut Brion, a remarkable Bordeaux blend from the esteemed region of Pessac Leognan in France. This exquisite wine exudes elegance, sophistication, and an unrivalled complexity that only a wine of its calibre could offer.

The 1982 Haut Brion reveals a captivating dark ruby red color, a visual representation of its rich and intense flavor profile. This wine greets the olfactory senses with a tantalizing mix of tobacco, roasted coffee, and a subtle hint of raisin, as acclaimed by Wine Spectator. The palate is a harmonious blend of red fruit, black olive, meat juices, and incense, as noted by Vinous. The wine carries a lovely line of acidity, making it perfectly balanced, focused, and refined.

A swirl of the glass reveals an intoxicating array of complex notes, making this wine a sensory delight. James Suckling describes a delightful mix of oyster shells, iodine, cigar, bark, dried mushroom, pine needles, black fruit, dried rosemary, charcoal, and tobacco leaves. A peaty and smoky element, poised and seamless on the palate, accompanies these, culminating in an endless finish.

The 1982 Haut Brion is not just a wine; it's a timeless piece of art, a masterpiece that continues to evolve with age. As Robert Parker's Wine Advocate mentions, the wine is supple and enveloping, offering a rich core of fruit, melting tannins, and a long resonant finish. The wine's character, charm, and stature continue to grow with each passing year.

This Haut Brion vintage offers a delightful sensory experience, a journey that transcends the ordinary. As Jane Anson notes, the wine perfectly balances exuberance with finesse, offering stunning waves of sweet brambled raspberry and blackberry fruits. The wine's complexity is further enhanced with undertones of tobacco, graphite, gunpowder tea, sandalwood, vanillin, grilled herbs, and iodine.

The 1982 Haut Brion is an exceptional wine, a testament to the prowess of the producer and the exceptional terroir of Pessac Leognan. It's truly a wine that deserves its place among the world's finest.