We are delighted to announce the 2021 release of the magnificent 1st Growth, Château Haut-Brion as well as its stable of wines. Haut-Brion is often the favourite First Growth of true Bordeaux connoisseurs – it has an elegance and a charm that are unmistakable and it ages as well as any wine in Bordeaux. Haut-Brion is one of the original four First Growths from the 1855 classification of Brodeaux, and the only property to make the list outside of the Médoc. Situated in Pessac-Léognan, it has slowly been surrounded by the ever growing city, like a green oasis, protected by the sheer quality of its terroir. It was purchased in the 1930s by the American Clarence Dillon, and is now run by his great-grandson, Prince Robert of Luxembourg. It has the smallest production of the First Growths, and the 2021 Haut-Brion is tipped by some to be the wine of the vintage! This is a wine that will unquestionably be more expensive to acquire in years to come, so why not pick up a case or two now for the cellar.
Also released by Domaines Clarence Dillon this morning is the super lineup from Château La Mission Haut-Brion. La Mission is often thought of as the unofficial ‘6th First Growth’ and when you drink the wine it’s easy to see why. We've lost count of the amount of times that vintages of La Mission have outperformed First Growths under blind conditions. La Mission Haut-Brion has been intertwined with neighboring Haut-Brion since the sixteenth Century, with both properties originally in the Lestonnac family. Olive de Lestonnac donated a vast part of her fortune to the Church, and so La Mission Haut-Brion was formed, run by Lazarist monks who paid a lot of attention to developing the vineyards. Following the Revolution it was sold off, and passed through various hands until being bought by Domaine Clarence Dillon in 1983. It vies in quality with its illustrious neighbor and the other First Growths, but at much more modest price!
Another release today that is most peoples 'wish lists' every year is the 2021 Chateau Calon Segur. Calon Segur is the most northerly of all the Medoc Grand-Crus Classes and produces one of the very best and age-worthy wines on the Left Bank. It is also known for having a heart on its label. The reason for the heart is that the former owner, Marquis de Segur, owned a number of estates (including Lafite and Latour!) but he declared, "My heart belongs to Calon." Due to its popularity, we never have enough Calon to supply demand, so act fast!
Finally we’re pleased to offer one of our favorite properties in Pessac Leognan, Domaine de Chevalier. A family-owned estate, the vineyards are surrounded by forests in the highest part of the appellation, and the vines stay cool with the wines retaining a remarkable freshness. Domaine de Chevalier have been on a run of good form for the last decade plus, producing some of their best-ever wines.
Don't miss this opportunity to secure your stock at the opening prices.
Our 2021 Futures Landing Page includes our Vintage Report & Wines of the Vintage, and is updated with new wines daily. We'll continue sending offers on the most compelling wines as they are released...stay tuned!
“The top properties turned out gorgeous, classically built wines that will absolutely thrill readers who appreciate freshness and energy…The best wines offer a striking combination of old-school classicism with modern-day precision.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
2021 Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan)
97-98 JS / 96-98 WA / 97 DE / 95-97 JD / 95-97 VM / 93-95 WI
A candidate for the title of wine of the vintage, the 2021 Haut-Brion unwinds in the glass with aromas of rich red and black fruit mingled with notions of cigar wrapper, licorice, black truffles, loamy soil and burning embers. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's elegant and multidimensional, with superb depth at the core, lively acids and ultra-refined tannins. Combining the classical proportions of the vintages of two decades ago with the viticultural and winemaking of today, it's a timeless classic in the making, but it's difficult to find an obvious analogy with an older vintage. When pressed, Jean-Philippe Delmas suggests a superior version of the 2014 vintage, and to me, a more concentrated, serious version of the 2012 vintage also comes to mind. What is clear, however, is that this is one of the real high points of 2021. The blend is 50% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc, and it attained 13.8% alcohol—a percentage point or so lower than in 2020 or 2019. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
$564.98 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Haut Brion >
2021 La Mission Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan)
97 JA / 94-96 JD / 94-96 WA / 95 DE / 94-95 JS / 93-95 VM / 92-94 WI
Plenty of classic La Mission finesse and balance, touches of cloves and velvety tannins, this is supremely balanced and elegant, with pummice stone minerality. It is a little taut on the finish in its tannic structure and no question majors more heavily on the cool blue fruit character than we have seen with this property in recent years. Seriously enjoyable, a total masterclass in cool climate fruit delivery. Easy to recommend. 73% new oak, harvest september 20 to October 8. No frost impact here and very little mildew, meaning the overall yield was up to 47hl/h, extremely generous for the vintage. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
$299.98 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of La Mission Haut Brion >
2021 Calon Segur (Saint Estephe)
95-97 VM / 94-97 JD / 95-96+ WA / 95 JA / 95 DE / 93-94 JS
The 2021 Calon Ségur was cropped at 36hL/ha and aged entirely in new oak for a planned 20 months. This year, the gap between the Grand Vin and the Marquis is blatantly obvious, to the extent that they are practically different wines, which is how Vincent Millet and his team treat them. The Cabernet is firmly in the driving seat here, with detailed, graphite-infused black fruit and a background florality that comes through with aeration. The medium-bodied palate displays very fine tannins, superb acidity (pH 3.65) and impressive harmony. This has exemplary build in the mouth, fine weight on the finish and a persistent aftertaste. An outstanding Calon-Ségur, elevated by the risks taken in de-leafing in June and waiting to pick. Bravo. 12.9% alcohol - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
$124.98 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Calon Segur >
2021 Domaine De Chevalier Rouge (Pessac Leognan)
95-96 JS / 93-95 VM / 93-95 WA / 93-95 JD / 94 JA
The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from September 28 until October 15 at 30hL/ha. Tobacco- and sous-bois-infused black fruit unfurl with a sense of assuredness on the nose, the best example, a third bottle toward the end of my tastings, being the most delineated. This has energy rather than horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with pencil-lead-infused black fruit and a slightly powdery texture, certainly the most saline in recent years, leading to an almost Pauillac-inspired finish. Stylish and classic Domaine de Chevalier. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
$67.39 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Domaine De Chevalier Rogue >
2021 Le Clarence De Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan)
94-95 JS / 91-93 WA / 92 DE / 90-92 VM / 91 JA
One of the finest second wines in this vintage is the 2021 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered wine evocative of dark berries, plums, pipe tobacco and burning embers. Built around powdery tannins and lively acids, it's an elegant, seamless cuvée that does bear more than a passing resemblance to the grand vin. - William Kelley, Wind Advocate
$149.29 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Le Clarence De Haut Brion >
2021 La Clarte De Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan)
91-93 WA / 93 DE / 91-93 JD / 90-92 WI
This is an exceptionally good Clarté, a second wine to buy this year if you possibly can, underlining just what exceptional whites have been produced at the Haut-Brion stable in 2017. It has lovely aromatics, with persistent flavours of exotic stone fruit, white flowers, soft rosemary and slatey minerality. It's generous without losing focus. Just 7% of production was put into Clarendelle. Harvested 22 to 31 August. 60% new oak. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter
$116.89 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
2021 La Chapelle De La Mission Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan)
93-94 JS / 92 JA / 92 DE / 90-92 WA
Subtle and sculpted, with clarity to the vivid and ripe sweet cherry, raspberry and loganberry fruits. This is bright and great quality, takes its time to open, but then shows waves of flavour, with smoked earth and campfire smoke. The lower alcohols are unusual in the Haut-Brion range of wines, and it has been several years since seeing anything under 14%, and it takes a moment to adjust to the different weight in the palate. 48hl/h yields after no frost and very little mildew. 27% new oak. Subtle, this takes its time to open. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
$77.99 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of La Chapelle De La Mission Haut Brion >
2021 Quintus (Saint Emilion)
94-95 JS / 92-94 WA / 92-94 VM / 92 DE
The 2021 Quintus shows considerable promise, displaying more concentration and character than the 2017, combined with appreciably lower alcohol than intervening vintages. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, loamy soil, raw cocoa and a deft framing of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with good concentration and a seamless, complete profile. It's a blend of around 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc from the limestone slopes. - William kelley, Wine Advocate
$94.98 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Quintus >
2% discount for orders placed with a wire or personal check.* Please click here to send us your order via our contact page, or call 360.350.4896 and we will be glad to assist you. (*Minimum order of $1000 for domestic wire, or $5000 for international wire. No minimum for personal check. For wines eligible for 5% case/9L discounts, maximum discount is 5%.)
Interested in a wine not on our website, or in placing a non-committed pre-order for particular 2021 Bordeaux? Click here to send us your list and we will advise as soon as the wines are available.
BOTTLING CHARGES FOR OTHER FORMATS Please note: Most Chateaux will be able to bottle your orders in the below formats. Click here or call +360.350.4896 if you are interested in any of the following options and they are not listed on our website:
375 ML - 12 x 750ml price + $40.00 per case (min. order of 24 x 375ml)
1.5 L - 12 x 750ml price + $36 per case (min. order of 6 x 1.5L)
3.0 L - 4 x 750ml price + $70 each | 6.0 L - 8 x 750ml price + $110 each
9.0 L - 12 x 750ml price + $180 each | 12.0 L - 16 x 750ml price + $210 each
15.0 L - 24 x 750ml price + $275 each | 18.0 L - 20 x 750ml price + $325 each
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Grand Vin Wine Merchants · 2950 32nd Ave SW · Suite A · Tumwater, Washington 98512 · United States (360) 350-4896
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