2016 Château Haut-Brion

The balanced 1996 vintage produced structured, concentrated wines with excellent aging potential. Haut-Brion’s terroir contributed richness, finesse, and complexity to this exceptional wine.

Ideal summer conditions allowed Haut-Brion's gravel-clay soils to achieve perfect ripeness while maintaining fresh acidity through the season. The First Growth's protected amphitheater captured optimal sun while moderating heat through crucial diurnal shifts. The wine reveals intense smoke notes, black fruit purity, and the seamless structure characteristic of this milestone vintage.

Record heat challenged vines, but Haut-Brion's deep clay subsoils provided vital water reserves through intense summer stress. The estate's old vines and sheltered Graves position preserved crucial freshness despite extreme temperatures. The wine displays profound tobacco complexity, dark fruit concentration, and the mineral depth inherent to this ancient terroir.

July's intense heat wave challenged the vines, yet Haut-Brion's deep-rooted Cabernet Sauvignon proved remarkably resilient in the estate's ancient gravel soils. September brought vital rain and cooling, allowing for extended hang time and complete phenolic development. The wine reveals classic First Growth restraint with tobacco, dark fruit intensity, and a firm tannic frame that speaks to the vintage's powerful nature.

The estate's historic gravel croups provided crucial drainage through challenging summer conditions, while September and October warmth enabled full ripening. The unique city-edge location helped moderate temperature variations during the extended harvest. The wine shows Haut-Brion's characteristic smoke and red fruits, though with the linear precision typical of the vintage.

The estate's gravelly soils in Pessac-Léognan provided natural heat reflection during the warm growing season, particularly benefiting younger vines selected for the second wine. Early morning harvesting preserved crucial acidity while capturing optimal ripeness from the property's historic parcels. The wine shows the vintage's warmth through plush dark fruits while maintaining Haut-Brion's signature smoky mineral character and refined structure.

Early summer warmth challenged vines, but Haut-Brion's unique gravel-clay mix provided crucial balance through temperature spikes. The estate's protected amphitheater in Graves preserved freshness despite vintage difficulties. The wine displays classic smoke aromatics, refined red fruits, and the mineral tension that marks this historic terroir.

One of the finest modern vintages, 2016 featured a dry summer and cool nights, preserving freshness and structure. Haut-Brion’s gravel and clay soils provided perfect drainage and ripening balance. A vintage of symmetry and longevity.

The 2017 vintage began with early vegetative growth, accelerated by a warm spring despite late April frosts. A significant water deficit in summer was offset by June rainfall, preventing drought stress. Above-average sunshine and hot days balanced by cool nights created ideal ripening conditions. September brought favorable harvest weather, interrupted briefly by rain that benefited Cabernet ripening. The resulting wines showcase outstanding fruit quality and crucial freshness, positioning 2017 as a potentially benchmark vintage.

The vintage's warmth was amplified by Haut-Brion's urban location, yet their deep gravel-clay soils provided perfect water regulation through summer heat. The historic estate's varied parcels allowed precise picking as temperatures peaked in their walled vineyards. Dark fruits, smoke, and crushed stones define this profound wine, displaying both power and the estate's signature restraint.

Early warmth drove rapid vine growth across Haut-Brion's historic gravel slopes, while February rains provided crucial soil reserves. The estate's deep gravel banks and maritime influence helped maintain freshness through intense summer heat, producing concentrated fruit with red-black intensity, smoky mineral depth, and Graves' signature refinement.

April frost dramatically reduced early yields, followed by a challenging growing season that demanded meticulous vineyard work through summer rains. The estate's unique gravel-over-clay soils provided essential drainage during wet periods, while the elevated Pessac location aided ripening. The predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blend shows profound complexity with classic smoke and gravel notes defining the vintage's character.