1996 Château Haut-Brion

This is an iconic First Growth benchmark from Pessac-Léognan: the legendary Château Haut-Brion 1996, presented in its iconic custom embossed bottle. As the sole non-Médoc property included in the historic 1855 Classification, Haut-Brion is universally celebrated for its singular complexity, distinctive Graves gravel terroir, and aristocratic balance. The legendary 1996 vintage in Bordeaux produced structured, highly concentrated wines with remarkable structural longevity, and this bottle has evolved into a glorious plateau of peak tertiary maturity after three decades of cellaring. The nose opens with a soaring bouquet of black currants, dark plums, and dried sweet cherries, seamlessly layered with hallmark Haut-Brion notes of warm gravelly earth, cigar box cedar, cured leather, dried tobacco leaf, and subtle crushed stone minerality. On the palate, it is medium-to-full-bodied and wonderfully silken, featuring plush, fully integrated tannins balanced by a fresh spine of natural acidity that carries into an endlessly long, noble, and savory mineral finish.

Highlights

• Vintage: 1996

• Region/Appellation: Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France (Premier Grand Cru Classé / First Growth)

• Producer: Château Haut-Brion

• Grape: Classic Bordeaux Blend (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc)

• Style: Fully Mature, Earth-Driven, Silky, and Complex First Growth Red Bordeaux

• Perfect for (food pairing): Fine cuts of slow-roasted rack of lamb with a garlic-rosemary crust, dry-aged prime ribeye or wagyu steak, roasted squab, pan-seared duck breast, or tender venison loin. Its complex tertiary notes of warm earth, tobacco, graphite, and forest floor also make it an extraordinary companion for pan-seared wild mushrooms, truffled risottos, savory earth-driven dishes, or a well-curated plate of mature hard cheeses such as an aged Comté or Gouda.