Beschreibung:

Château Haut-Brion--Vintage 1926
3 bottles per lot
CHATEAU HAUT-BRION Haut Brion meaning 'high mound of grave' enjoys the oldest reputation in print of any wine in Bordeaux. Its most prominent early owner was Jean de Pontac (1488-1589), who built the Château, became the richest man in Bordeaux, and lived an extrordinary 101 years. The name of the Pontac family was often attached to the wine, and in 1666 Jean's great-great-grandson, Francois-Auguste, opened a tavern in Lonon called 'The Sign of the Pontac's Head', where 'Pontac' was sold for three times the price of any other wine. The fashionable tavern lasted for over a century The wine of Haut-Brion was first sold at Christie's under the name of 'Pontac' on April 6th, 1788, consigned from the cellars of the Marquis de Noailles. Nine years later the American ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson travelled to Bordeaux and, as history has recorded, was unsuccessful in his attempt to purchase a barrique of the 1784 vintage. He had to settle for two cases of fifty bottles each and was known to enjoy and promote the wines of Haut-Brion to his friends and colleagues back in a nascent America. Although fine wines were made in the 1920s, the estate's renaissance is widely recoginised to begin with the 1945 vintage, crafted by the senior Dillon-Delmas team. Clarence Dillons's granddaughter Joan began representing the property on behalf of the family when she moved to France in 1955. She became President of Domaine Clarence Dillon in 1974. After the death of her first husband, Prince Charles of Luxembourg, Princess Joan married Philippe de Noailles, Duc de Muchy, and in 1978 asked him to become an active director of the company. Since then, the Duc and Duchesse de Mouchy have shared the most important decisions regarding the management of the Domaine. Haut-Brion, the wine, has an illustrious reputation for its richness and suavity and is generally comprised of 55 Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 Merlot and 20 Cabernet Franc. Haut-Brion is not just geographically distant from its First Growth peers, for it is widley recognised as being singular in style and grace Château Haut-Brion--Vintage 1926 Pessac (Graves), 1er cru classé. Château-bottled Ex Christie's 6/12/1979. Dillon Cellar Lot 103 has US import slip label. Lot 103 has a slightly corroded capsule. Lot 103 has a stained and slightly damaged label and lot 104 has one stained and two slightly stained labels. Levels: lot 103 upper-shoulder and lot 104 one upper/top, one upper and one mid/low-shoulder Tasting note: In my opinion, the best Haut-Brion until we reach the 1945. Noted in different contexts and sizes: bottle, magnum and jeroboam. The most notable, indeed the ones that first impressed me, were from the Dillon family cellar at Dunwalke in New Jersey, sold at Christie's in 1979. Among their other great wines were 9 dozen magnums and 13 dozen bottles of the 1926 Haut-Brion, all in perfect condition. But Haut-Brion is first and foremost a Graves and its nose and taste are very distinctive, totally unlike its peers, the 1er cru Médocs, save for its finesse. The bouquet is usually more earthy, sometimes gingery, tobacco-like, 'singed fern' I noted. Most recently still almost opaque; harmonious, rich nose; fairly sweet, full flavoured, powerful, verging on the '28 in style. Last tasted at Len Evans' 'Single-bottle Club' dinner in the Hunter Valley, Australia, Sept 2000 *****. Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine 3 bottles per lot