Laville Haut Brion

History of Château Laville Haut-Brion

Château Laville Haut-Brion was born in 1611 under the impetus of Marie Laville, widow of a Bordeaux magistrate. It is to her that the estate owes its name. The estate remained under the control of the Laville family for more than a century before experiencing a series of changes in ownership. It was in 1919 that the Woltner family, already established in the Graves appellation, took the reins of the estate. Their influence marked a decisive turning point for Laville Haut-Brion, notably through their decision to replant the vines with grape varieties adapted to white wine production, due to the characteristics of the heavy, clay soil.

The estate then entered the modern era when it was acquired by the Dillon family in 1983, already owners of the prestigious Château Haut-Brion. In 1959, Château Laville Haut-Brion was classified as a Premier Cru de Graves, a rare and precious distinction. However, despite its notoriety among connoisseurs, its production remained relatively confidential. In 2009, a new chapter was written for this vineyard when its wine was officially renamed Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, paying homage to its past whilst consolidating its place within the prestigious portfolio of the Dillon family.

The 2006 vintage of Château Laville Haut-Brion blanc was rated 98/100 by Robert Parker, while the 1974 vintage was rated 97/100, testifying to the elegance and finesse of this rare white wine from Pessac-Léognan.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Laville Haut-Brion

The terroir of Château Laville Haut-Brion is located in Talence, at the gates of Bordeaux, in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. It is nestled in a small 2.55-hectare plot enclosed within the 30 hectares of Château La Mission Haut-Brion. This unique location gives birth to white wines of rare finesse, thanks to a terroir composed mainly of clays, shallow gravels and sand, ideal characteristics for the production of white wines.

The estate is predominantly planted with Sémillon (85%), a grape variety that gives the wine aromatic richness and a good ageing capacity. There is also 14% Sauvignon Blanc, which brings freshness and liveliness, as well as a small hint of Muscadelle (1%), used in minimal proportion for its delicate floral aromas. The planting density is 10,000 vines per hectare, a figure that testifies to the attention paid to quality rather than quantity.

The vines of Château Laville Haut-Brion are on average 51 years old, which gives them exceptional maturity and aromatic concentration. The vineyard is planted in a terroir renowned as difficult for reds but perfect for whites, particularly due to the clay heaviness of the soil, which allows the production of wines of unique richness and complexity.

Vinifications at Château Laville Haut-Brion

The vinification process at Château Laville Haut-Brion is rigorously controlled to ensure consistent quality with each vintage. The harvest is carried out by hand, with meticulous sorting of the grapes to select only the best bunches. 

After the harvest, the grapes are pressed without prolonged contact with the skins, which preserves the finesse of the aromas. Fermentation then takes place in French oak barrels, of which about 40 to 50% are new barrels. This balanced proportion between new and older wood brings structure and roundness to the wine without dominating the delicate aromatic profile of the grape varieties.

Ageing lasts between 9 and 12 months, depending on the characteristics of the vintage. This ageing on fine lees, combined with regular stirring, allows the development of a rich and unctuous texture, whilst preserving the freshness and liveliness of the wine. Notably, no malolactic fermentation is carried out on these wines, a decision that preserves all the natural acidity and freshness of the Sauvignon Blanc.

The cuvées of Château Laville Haut-Brion

Château Laville Haut-Brion, which became Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc in 2009, produces a single cuvée of high-quality dry white wine. This wine is often described as one of the best examples of what Bordeaux can offer in terms of white wines.

2008: The last vintage under the Château Laville Haut-Brion label, this wine is distinguished by its refinement and delicacy. It presents a palate that promises to blossom with time, already offering subtle notes of honey and acacia.

2007: Dominated by Sémillon, this vintage is charming although less complex than other years. It is characterised by softer aromas, with a balanced and seductive palate.

2006: An elegant and racy vintage, marked by subtlety and beautiful freshness. Thanks to rigorous sorting, the château was able to make the best of a difficult year, producing a wine of great purity.

2005: An exceptional vintage, offering impressive aromatic complexity with beautiful freshness on the palate, this wine stands out for its depth and ageing potential.

These wines, although rare and expensive, offer an unforgettable experience for lovers of great Bordeaux whites. Their long ageing potential, often exceeding 20 years for the best vintages, makes them sought-after collector's wines around the world.

The vintages of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, two Bordeaux appellations, stand out for their consistent quality. The years 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 are particularly prized for their finesse and balance. The vintages 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are equally remarkable for their structure and ageing potential. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 confirm this continuing excellence, with wines offering both elegance and longevity.

Explore all the Grands Crus Classés de Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list, the First Growth of 1855, Château Haut-Brion of Pessac-Léognan, is a historical reference. For red andwhite wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac and Domaine de Chevalier offer interesting cuvées. For reds, you can discover the wines of Château Fieuzal, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Latour Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Pape-Clément and Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. White wine enthusiasts can turn to the productions of Château Couhins, Château Couhins Lurton and Château Laville Haut-Brion. These estates offer you a wide range of wines to discover in the heart of the Graves region.

Château Laville Haut-Brion, now Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, is one of Bordeaux's hidden gems, reserved for enlightened enthusiasts. With its unique terroir, limited production and emphasis on Sémillon, it stands out among the great white wines of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Each vintage tells a story, combining aromatic complexity, finesse and exceptional longevity. Although the last vintage bearing the Laville Haut-Brion label dates from 2008, the soul of this estate lives on through the current cuvées of Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to savour the heritage of a great Bordeaux white wine.