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Wine Description
The Story
Château Haut-Brion is the oldest and by far the smallest of the "Premiers Grands Crus" vineyards of the Gironde 1855 classification. Château Haut-Brion is one of the few remaining family-owned domains of the Bordeaux region with a history going back to the 16th century. It has been owned by the American Dillon family since 1935.
There is an amazing dual hit of black fruit and fine-grained tannins here, which is rounded off with a wonderful creaminess. The fruit is encased in a huge structure, which is not always easy to assess when tasting en primeur, but it has a lovely fleshiness to it and the wine is multi-layered with flavours evolving in the mouth. Notes of cocoa, vanilla and tar show towards the finish and it all ends completely seamlessly. The tannins are extremely ripe and well-integrated. Ch. Haut-Brion is often understated at this stage, which serves to underline how fine this wine will be.
Château Haut-Brion Thomas Jefferson, the american ambassador to Paris and later President of the United States of America, visited Haut Brion on May 25th 1787 commenting in his journals about the soils of the vineyards as well as mentioning that there were four vineyards of first quality Château Margaux, Château Latour Ségur, Château Haut Brion and Château La Fite. He also wrote:"Haut Brion is a wine of the first rank and seems to please the American palate more than all the others that I have been able to taste in France.“ Jean de Pontac began constituting the Haut-Brion vineyard, in the Graves region, in 1525.
His descendants went on to produce "New French Claret," the precursor of today's great wines. Their efforts enabled Arnaud III de Pontac to sell his wine under the estate's name as early as 1660. Called “vin de Pontac”, then Haut-Brion, it gained a fine reputation and enormous success in London. The first of the Bordeaux great growths was born. Through the centuries, the owners and managers of Haut-Brion have been obsessed with perpetuating the château's reputation for quality. Classified a First Growth in 1855, Haut-Brion has done everything possible ever since then to maintain its standing. To perpetuate its Grand Cru status, an estate and its constituent parts have to be maintained over the centuries, suitable grape varieties for each plot have to be chosen, and a relentless selection process carried out. Today, a great American family, the Dillons, has been continuing this tradition for seventy years.
Wine Information
1928 A VERY GOOD YEAR
An astonishing wine, an extraordinary creation. Is it really possible to make this from grapes... Power, concentration, richness of structure. Today, it seems that our raw materials are different and it would be very hard to match this quality. A great
example of the past.
Current vintage notes
Following a poor 1927, this year raised great hopes. There were many purchases of wine before it was even harvested. Weather was very good up until the harvest, but the fermentation was difficult because of high temperatures. Uneven results but with certain very prestigious wines
Vintage 1928
The weather conditions in Bordeaux during the 1928 growing season played a pivotal role in shaping the vintage. The year started with a mild winter, followed by a warm and dry spring that allowed for an early budbreak and flowering.
Bordeaux 1928 Reds: The red wines of Bordeaux from the 1928 vintage are notable for their unique character and their representation of a challenging growing season.
Appearance: The 1928 Bordeaux reds typically exhibit a brick-red to amber color, reflecting their considerable age.
Nose: On the nose, the 1928 Bordeaux reds offer an array of aromas, including dried fruits, tobacco, cedar, and subtle earthy notes. While they may not possess the vibrancy of wines from more exceptional vintages, they are known for their complexity.
Palate: In the mouth, the 1928 Bordeaux reds are characterized by their delicate and often resolved tannins. The wines tend to be lighter in body and lack the depth and concentration found in 1929 vintage. Flavors of dried cherries, currants, and subtle herbal nuances can be discerned.
Overall Impressions: The Bordeaux 1928 vintage is generally regarded as a fine vintage in terms of wine quality.
For collectors and enthusiasts, the 1928 Bordeaux wines offer a historical perspective on the region's winemaking. While they all may not consistently deliver the depth and elegance associated with Bordeaux at its best, they can provide insight into a unique period in the region's history and the variability of Bordeaux vintages. When encountering bottles from this vintage today, it's essential to manage expectations and to seek out well-preserved bottles from reputable producers for the best possible tasting experiences.
Recommended glass shape
Average Bottle Price
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2005 | 2000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 523€ +3.0% | 1 478€ +3.9% | 1 422€ +2.4% | 1 388€ +53.9% | 902€ +23.1% | 733€ |