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.

The 2021 Haut Brion Bordeaux Blend from the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a remarkably well-regarded red wine that has garnered high praise from numerous professional reviewers. As one of the top wines of the vintage, it stands out for its complexity, elegance, and potential for long-term aging.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded this wine a score of 97, highlighting its "complex bouquet of dark berries and cassis mingled with notions of cigar wrapper and burning embers." The review by Yohan Castaing emphasizes the wine's full-bodied, deep, and velvety texture, with a "multidimensional core of fruit, sweet tannins, and lively acids" that culminates in a long, penetrating finish.

Jane Anson from janeanson.com rated the wine at 95 points, noting its impressive balance and structure. She described it as "stricter than the Mission at this early stage" with flavors of "smoked black pepper, cloves, fennel, slate, rose stems, blackberry, and cassis fruit." Anson praised its ability to build layers over time, forecasting its longevity.

Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also gave the wine a score in the range of 95-97 points, commending its aromas of "flowers, tobacco wrapper, chocolate, burning wood, ash, cigar box, currants, black cherries, and spice." He found the palate to be "fresh, bright, vibrant, lifted, and floral," with a soft, silky finish. He noted the wine's blend of 50% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Cabernet Franc, with an alcohol content of 13.85%.

James Suckling awarded a near-perfect score of 98 points, describing the wine as "very structured" with "blackberry, blackcurrant, black-olive, and mushroom character." He highlighted its "driving balance of firm and ripe tannins and gorgeous fruit."

Jeb Dunnuck, giving the wine 94+ points, characterized it as firmer and more masculine compared to its sibling La Mission Haut-Brion. He noted its "smoky red and black fruits, salted meats, graphite, tobacco, and crushed stone-driven aromas and flavors."

Vinous, with a score of 95, praised its "very pure bouquet" and "good fruit concentration considering the vintage," while Decanter, also at 97 points, lauded its "electric appeal almost unrivalled in the vintage," with flavors that linger through a long finish.

Wine Enthusiast gave it a 95-97 point range, calling it "rich with structure and serious intent," and The Wine Independent rated it 96, noting the gradual growth of black and red berry flavors and a lingering, fragrant earth note.

Overall, the 2021 Haut Brion is a standout wine with a range of complex flavors and a structure that promises to evolve beautifully over the coming decades.