Location and landscape
Pessac lies a few kilometres to the south-west of Bordeaux. The municipality belongs to the geographical area of the Appellation Pessac-Léognan in the northern part of the Graves on the left bank of the Garonne. The nearby river system reduces the risk of frost; the influence of the Atlantic creates a mild climate with regular rainfall. The Landes forest protects against westerly winds and helps preserve air humidity.
Soils and terroir
The soils of Pessac-Léognan formed from ancient courses of the Garonne and include gravel, rolled stones, sand, clay and calcareous materials. In the vineyard of Château Haut-Brion in Pessac, there is gravel rich in quartz over clay, sand, limestone and shell sand. The gravel deposits are around 20 centimetres to more than three metres thick. Gravel hills on a terrace, slopes and small watercourses such as Peugue and Serpent support natural drainage.
Vine-growing and wine style
In Pessac, Château Haut-Brion cultivates 51 hectares of vineyard area, of which around 48 hectares are planted with red varieties and three hectares with white varieties. The red varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot; the white varieties are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. The Appellation Pessac-Léognan stands for dry red and white wines. The red wines are regarded as powerful and complex; the dry white wines combine the freshness and fruitiness of Sauvignon with the fuller texture of Sémillon.
History of vine-growing
Vine-growing at the site of Château Haut-Brion dates back roughly to the first century AD. The earliest written mention of a wine specifically associated with the site dates from 1521. Jean de Pontac founded the estate in 1525 in the Graves region. Château Haut-Brion was classified in 1855 as a Premier Grand Cru Classé and is also a Classified Growth of the Graves.
