Château Haut-Brion 2021, First Growth Pessac-Léognan.

Château Haut-Brion in Pessac-Léognan is the only First Growth of 1855 outside the Médoc, owned by the Dillon family since 1935 and grown on gravel at the edge of Bordeaux city. The 2021 blends 50.3% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.7% Cabernet Franc, aged in 73% new oak. It was a demanding grower's year: April frost largely spared the estate's plots, May and June were wet and early summer cool, then hot, dry weather from August ripened the grapes for a September 13 to October 8 harvest. The result is fresh and lower in alcohol than recent vintages, recalling classic Bordeaux of the 1990s. Tasting from bottle, Yohan Castaing of Wine Advocate (97 points) calls it "one of the wines of the vintage" and suggests drinking it from 2030 to 2065. 13.8% ABV, 750ml.