Table of Content
General description 5 A family passion 10 Exceptional wines 22
Château Haut-Brion 28 Château Haut-Brion’s wines A very rich histoy
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 52 Château La Mission Haut-Brion’s wines A history of a sacred charm Château Quintus 74 Château Quintus’ wines The revelation of an exceptional terroir in Saint-Emilion Clarendelle, Inspired by Haut-Brion 86 The family of wines Clarendelle
The quintessence 92 of unique terroirs People of 102 Domaine Clarence Dillon The parisian residence 106 of Domaine Clarence Dillon
La Cave du Château 112 Le Clarence 116
A sense of cultural heritage 126 preamble
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Domaine Clarence Dillon is a family company managed by the fourth generation of a dynasty founded in 1935 by its namesake, Clarence Dillon. Since its creation, the company celebrates the French art de vivre, combining exceptional wines and ultimate gastronomy. preamble
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Domaine Clarence Dillon owns, within a family company, some of the most worldwide The story began on 1935 prestigious estates: Château Haut-Brion (a 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé), Château La Mission Haut-Brion (Grand Cru Classé de Graves), Château Quintus (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru) and Clarendelle.
Since 2015, Domaine Clarence Dillon also has a Parisian residence, a true embassy of this French art de vivre so prized by Prince Robert de Luxembourg, representative of the fourth generation of the family. It houses the two-star gourmet restaurant « Le Clarence » and « La Cave du Château », a boutique of Fine wines and spirits from the greatest French terroirs.
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Paris
Left bank Le Clarence La Cave du Château Clarence Dillon Wines Clarendelle, Inspired par Haut-Brion, Château Haut-Brion, Pessac Talence
Right bank
Château Quintus, Saint-Émilion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Talence
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Visionnaire et précurseur de tout temps A French-American family history A family passion A rapid growth combining tradition and innovation A renewed ambition of excellence
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When he purchased Château Haut-Brion in 1935, Clarence Dillon restored it to its former glory and to the elite circle of the most legendary wines in the world. This extraordinary, bold, courageous vision is now continued by the fourth generation of the family, represented by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman since 2008.
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Une passion familiale A French-American a family passion 15 family history
Born in San Antonio in 1882, Clarence Dillon graduated from Harvard in 1905. In 1913, he joined William A. Read, founder of the brokerage firm William A. Read & Company of Wall Street. Three years later he became a partner, then in 1919, Managing Director of the company that would become Dillon, Read & Company in 1921.
During his career in finance, Clarence Dillon never forgot France, always close to his heart. An esthete and Francophile, Clarence Dillon was interested in French gastronomy, and even took introductory courses at the famous Paris cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu. The Dillons rented an apartment in Paris from 1929, and a holiday home in Normandy every summer.
When he purchased Château Haut-Brion in May 1935, he asked his nephew Seymour Weller, who lived in Paris, to manage the estate. Weller immediately began modernising the property and carried out his uncle’s refurbishment projects. He installed electricity and a new plumbing system in the house, redesigned the gardens and other outdoor areas, cut the trees, cleaned the cellars and replaced the worn out equipment with modern, high-performance systems.
He was assisted in this task by Georges Delmas, an expert who arrived at Château Haut-Brion in December 1923. His grandson, Jean-Philippe, is the current Deputy Managing Director, wines and estates, having succeeded his father Jean-Bernard – a dynasty similar to the Dillons.
14 les vins A rapid growth combining a family passion 17 tradition and innovation
In 1955, Douglas Dillon, Clarence’s son, was appointed Ambassador to France. His daughter Joan Dillon - Clarence’s granddaughter – has spent most of her life in France. In 1975, Joan Dillon, Princess of Luxembourg, succeeded her cousin Seymour Weller at the head of the company.
In 1978, widow of Prince Charles of Luxembourg, she married Philippe de Noailles, Duke of Mouchy. From 1979 until his retirement in 2002, the Duke was Managing Director of Domaine Clarence Dillon, working hand in hand with his wife and giving her valuable assistance in managing the company’s operations. During her years as Chairwoman, the company achieved an impressive body of work, a subtle combination of innovation and continuity, leading Château Haut-Brion into the 21st century. In 1983, the neighbouring property Château La Mission Haut-Brion and its associated wines, Laville Haut-Brion and La Tour Haut-Brion, came under the wing of Domaine Clarence Dillon. At La Mission, the company immediately initiated what was almost a second Renaissance, so ambitious was its modernisation.
In June 1997, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, son of Joan Dillon and great-grandson of Clarence Dillon, became a full-time member of the company’s management team and was appointed Managing Director in 2002, before taking over as Chairman in 2008 when his mother Joan, Duchess of Mouchy, resigned as Chairwoman of Domaine Clarence Dillon, handing down the reins. a family passion
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A renewed ambition of excellence
He has continued the visionary work of his great-grandfather, in the tradition of In summer 2011, he acquired Château Quintus in the famous Saint-Émilion innovation and respect for values that has been the constant guiding force behind appellation, a property he extended two years later by purchasing the neighbouring the story of Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion. In 2005, he vineyard. Then, in November 2015, the company began a new chapter in its history, launched the first premium Bordeaux wine brand, Clarendelle, and the trading with the opening of its Parisian residence, home to its head office, a fine wine subsidiary Clarence Dillon Wines. store – La Cave du Château – and a gastronomic restaurant, logically christened He has also undertaken significant construction work at Château La Mission Haut- Le Clarence**. In October 2018, the family company joined Primum Familiae Vini Brion, creating new technical areas and a tasting room, redesigning the gardens (PFV), a unique association of historic families from the world of wine, thereby and, above all, constructing a 1,000 sq m cellar, built entirely from Frontenac completing the group’s full complement of 12 members. PFV encourages and stone. Once this work was completed in 2009, a vast renovation project was celebrates the exceptional, historic contribution of family estates in some of the launched at Château Haut-Brion, with the creation of new reception rooms, new greatest winegrowing regions in the world. Above all, PFV represents excellence offices and a kitchen fit for Michelin starred chefs, perpetuating the traditional art in winemaking and the continuity of a long family tradition, values very dear to 18 of hospitality so dear to Domaine Clarence Dillon. Domaine Clarence Dillon. a family passion
Château Haut-Brion Château La Mission Haut-Brion Château Quintus Exceptional wines Clarendelle, Inspired by Haut-Brion Exceptional wines exceptional wines 25
The success of Domaine Clarence Dillon lies in its respect for tradition, its values, its unique expertise acquired over the centuries, and its innovative, modern vision. Domaine Clarence Dillon blends tradition with innovation, revealing the quintessence of our exceptional terroirs to produce a complete collection of authentic, elegant, balanced wines.
Left Bank Right Bank Château Haut-Brion Château Quintus
CHÂTEAU HAUT-BRION - A 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé CHÂTEAU QUINTUS - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru CHÂTEAU HAUT-BRION BLANC LE DRAGON DE QUINTUS - Second red wine LE CLARENCE DE HAUT-BRION - Second red wine SAINT-ÉMILION DE QUINTUS - Third red wine LA CLARTE DE HAUT-BRION - Second white wine
Left Bank Clarendelle, Château La Mission Haut-Brion Inspired by Haut-Brion
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION - Cru Classé de Graves CLARENDELLE, INSPIRED BY HAUT-BRION CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION BLANC Red, White, Rosé, Amberwine and the new red appellations: LA CHAPELLE DE LA MISSION HAUT-BRION - Second red wine Saint-Emilion and Medoc LA CLARTE DE HAUT-BRION - Second white wine
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The story of Domaine Clarence Dillon is the story of some of the most prestigious wines in the world.
Inheriting the work of their predecessors and illustrious family owners, Clarence Dillon’s descendants have never ceased to perfect the efforts undertaken by magnifying the terroirs of Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion and more recently, Château Quintus. Clarendelle, the first premium Bordeaux wine brand, is the logical next step in this quest for excellence.
26 exceptional wines A classic French legend: exceptional wines 29 Château Haut-Brion A 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé
Left bank 53 hectares
The first vines appeared on the gravel hillsides of Haut-Brion in the first century AD. In 1521, Château Haut-Brion became the first Bordeaux vintage to be named after its terroir, not after the owner or the parish, the first luxury wine brand in the world, obtaining the rare distinction of Premier Grand Cru Classé (Classified First Growth) in the 1855 classification, the only vintage not in the Médoc to receive this prestigious title.
28 les vins CHÂTEAU HAUT-BRION LE CLARENCE DE HAUT-BRION CHÂTEAU HAUT-BRION WHITE LA CLARTÉ DE HAUT-BRION
Elegant and complex, Château Haut-Brion red wine usually Very similar in style and elegance to Château Haut-Brion When we talk about Château Haut-Brion white wine, the This second white wine, in a light golden colour, comes from consists of 45% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% red, this second wine is an ode to the specific terroir of the first words that come to mind are uniqueness, excellence Châteaux Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion. Blended Cabernet Franc and a dash of Petit Verdot. Its characteristic Graves appellation. With a harmonious, high-quality nose and richness. There are however many other descriptors from the two second wines of these properties, La Clarté mineral aromas and notes of black fruit make it unique. of tobacco and black fruit, Le Clarence de Haut- Brion - an that can be applied to this wine. Containing 52% Sémillon de Haut-Brion is made from Sémillon (90% on average) and The first impression is very discreet, even reticent. Each average blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 48% Sauvignon Blanc, Château Haut-Brion white is Sauvignon Blanc (10% on average). Wine lovers now have time it is swirled, new aromas bring out greater complexity. and 25% Cabernet Franc - is an excellent introduction to an icon in the world of exceptional white wines (400 to the chance to find out how Sémillon expresses itself in a dry The terroir is expressed through its unique empyreumatic Domaine Clarence Dillon red wines. The younger brother of 650 cases per vintage). This extremely sought-after wine white wine, at a very young age. Its fruity, floral aromas are signature (cigar, chocolate, roasting, cedar wood, etc.). The Château Haut-Brion red possesses all the unique attributes is an enigma, with a unique, very distinctive expression. extremely fresh and uniquely complex, all good reasons for first taste is also reserved, very soft with precise tannins, but of a high-quality wine that can be enjoyed sooner (we The specific blend gives this Graves wine a concentration exploring its finesse and aromatic expression (around 1,000 the strength of the wine then reveals itself, especially at the recommend waiting an average of five years before drinking and breadth that is atypical of a dry Bordeaux white. When cases per vintage). A wonderful introduction to its elder finish, which is surprisingly long. This aromatic persistence the second wine, compared to ten years for the first wine). young, its aromas transport you like an Alsace or Burgundy brothers. is due to its very noble origins. Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a formidable first encounter vintage and its generous palate has a surprisingly long before discovering Château Haut-Brion red wine. finish. Bordeaux too can produce great white wines! A very rich history les vins 33
Located in the town of Pessac, just a few kilometres from Bordeaux, Château Haut-Brion – the first of the three estates acquired by the Dillon family – is the oldest winegrowing property in the region.
The ancient Haut-Brion terroir The history of the Haut-Brion lands goes back to the first century AD, as evidenced by a Roman coin featuring a portrait of Emperor Claudius, recently found in one of the gravel slopes of the Château Haut-Brion vineyard. Few centuries later, the Haut-Brion terroir was given its name and was recognised as a “Cru” wine in 1521, according to the Gironde Departmental Archives. A few years passed before Château Haut-Brion became the Grand Cru wine we know now, thanks to the work of Jean de Pontac, who defined the boundaries of the current vineyard and built the Château we can admire today.
Château Haut-Brion
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The Pontac Dynasty
In 1533, Jean de Pontac acquired the On his death, the château went to his Manorial rights from a Basque merchant, fourth son, Arnaud II de Pontac. When he Jean Duhalde. Pontac had married died in 1605, his nephew Geoffroy inherited According to all reports, Arnaud III, Geoffroy’s Jeanne de Bellon in 1525 and her dowry Haut-Brion. The two generations after was a portion of the Haut-Brion land. Jean de Pontac did everything they could son, was a true Renaissance man. An erudite Once he had acquired the title, Jean de to make their name known, producing and Pontac continually perfected the work selling the wine from their estate, but it was humanist, he was reported to have had one of begun by the Romans, expanding and the following generation, that of Arnaud renovating the estate, turning it into what III de Pontac, who really consolidated the largest private libraries in France. it is today, the ancestor of the Bordeaux the château’s reputation. According to Grands Crus. In 1549, he began building all reports, Arnaud III, Geoffroy’s son, He quickly became one of the most influential the château. Knowing the land very well, was a true Renaissance man. An erudite Jean de Pontac decided to build it on a humanist, he was reported to have politicians in Bordeaux, when he was appointed sandy area at the foot of a magnificent had one of the largest private libraries gravel slope, used only for growing vines. in France. He quickly became one of the First President of the Guyenne Parliament. Jean de Pontac was one of the most most influential politicians in Bordeaux, important owners of Haut-Brion and when he was appointed First President was personally very involved in the of the Guyenne Parliament. winemaking, throughout his life. At the end of his life, he owned over half of the vines that now make up Haut-Brion. He died at the age of 101 on 5 April 1589, having lived through the reigns of five Kings: Louis XII, François I, Henri II, Charles IX and Henri III – most probably a unique experience at the time.
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The London success
As soon as he inherited the estate, Arnaud And there drank a sort of French wine new style of wine, the direct ancestor of of Haut-Brion, praising its incomparable around the main courtyard. Joseph de III began to expand the residence, adding called Ho Bryan (sic), that hath a good our modern-day “vins de garde” (long- qualities. Following the Royal example, Fumel continued winemaking, using an additional wing to the Château and and most particular taste that I never keeping wines), enjoyed success under famous personalities took an interest the techniques developed by the doubling the surface area of the vineyard. met with...” From the mid-17th century the name “New French Claret”. Years in Haut-Brion wine, in an attempt to Pontacs: new wine was systematically He also used his political influence to onwards, Haut-Brion became the first later, many historians would refer to this understand the origin of its “very particular topped up and racking was carried out extend the fame of his wine. At that time, Bordeaux wine to be designated by the period as a “wine revolution”. taste”. John Locke, the famous English twice a year. The beneficial contact in the early 17th century, Bordeaux was no name of its land, not only by that of its philosopher, visited the estate on 14 May between the wine and the oak tannins longer under English domination, but still owner or the parish. Created by the Pontack’s head 1677 and wrote about it in his book, The encouraged the cellar master to store exported most of its wines to England. Pontacs, Château Haut-Brion was the Works of John Locke: “The wine of Pontac, the wine in barrels for eight years or In 1660, after 11 years of Puritanism, the first wine brand. In 1666, Arnaud III sent his son François- so revered in England, is made on a little more. These new techniques improved English monarchy was restored, with the Auguste de Pontac to the English capital, rise of ground, lieing open most to the the quality of Haut-Brion wines and led accession of Charles II to the throne. accompanied by a French chef. Here, west. It is noe thing but pure white sand, to a fairly spectacular price increase. He will serve Château Haut-Brion at Unrivalled wines they opened an upscale tavern called mixed with a little gravel. One would imagin The 1784 vintage was worth 325 his table, for the first time in the year of The name of Arnaud III de Pontac is “Pontack’s Head”, from a portrait of his it scarce fit to bear anything.” The legend pounds per cask, 600 pounds in 1787, his coronation. engraved in the history of Haut-Brion father’ hanging on the door. The location of Château Haut-Brion was born. and 700 pounds in 1789. The cellar book (officially known as the and indeed in the history of French wine, was excellent, very near several clubs of Office of the Pantry, the Butler and the above all because he created a new style influential intellectuals. It immediately became th th Cellar of the Lord King) mentions that of wine, the origin of all modern-day Grand “... the only fashionable establishment The 18 and 19 centuries: in 1660-1661, Joseph Batailhe received Cru reds. This wine – kept in the vats and in all of London...” and was a tavern, modernity, unity for “169 Bls [bottles] 1 parcel wine of aged for longer – benefited from new restaurant and delicatessen. Pontac sold his and consecration Hobriono [Haut-Brion] for himself techniques: topping-up (regularly topping Haut-Brion here at a high price - 7 shillings personally delivering for the Lord King up the barrels to prevent oxidisation of a bottle, compared to the usual 2 shillings Less than a century later, in and hospitality at 21s 4d per Bl with the wine) and racking (a process that paid for all other wines. The establishment 1749, Joseph de Fumel inherited full jugs”. eliminates the lees and aerates the wine). became a meeting place for intellectuals, Château Haut-Brion from his father. In the space of three years, the King’s Thanks to these processes, wine could serving Haut-Brion wine and a cuisine that A new golden age then began. He tastes were shared by other circles, firstly now be aged in the bottle, ensuring it was much more elaborate than the fare created a large, French-style park and the Court and then in London’s upper improved over time. served in other London inns at the time. designed a more intimate garden, still class. Samuel Pepys, the famous English On the English market, the main traditional Aristocrats, artists, writers and wine lovers in existence near the château. He also diarist, wrote in his journal in 1663: “... customer of Bordeaux wines, this totally all gathered to taste and buy the bottles built an Orangerie and new outbuildings
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Joseph de Fumel and Thomas Jefferson
On 25 May 1787, Joseph de Fumel the classification of 1855. Ironically, received Thomas Jefferson at the same year that Joseph de Fumel Château Haut-Brion for the first time. was guillotined, Jefferson was elected Jefferson gave his first impressions President of the United States, staying of the vineyard that day: “The soil of true to “his” Château Haut-Brion. After Haut-Brion, which I examined in great appearing on the Royal tables of England detail, is made up of sand, in which there and France, Haut-Brion wine was a is near as much round gravel or small regular guest at the White House dinners stone and a very little loam.” of Presidents Madison and Monroe. The next day, he wrote to his brother-in- law Francis Eppes: “I cannot deny myself the pleasure of asking you to invest in a parcel of wine I have been chosing for myself. I do it the rather as it will furnish you a specimen of what is the very best Bordeaux wine. It is of the vineyard of Obrion, one of the four established as the very bestand it is of the vintage of “The soil of Haut-Brion, which 1784. Six dozen bottles of it will be packed separately addressed to you.” Jefferson’s I examined in great detail, account is of even more value as his private correspondence demonstrates is made up of sand, in which how knowledgeable he was about Bordeaux wines. He identified “four first- there is near as much round quality vineyards” for red wine: Château Lafite, Château Margaux, Château Latour gravel or small stone and and Château Haut-Brion, anticipating a very little loam.”
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Talleyrand and the Empire period
Over the next 40 years, the estate served with Château Haut-Brion wines, passed through different hands. In to further his political ambitions and was 1801, it was purchased by Charles- fond of saying, “My diplomacy is done Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Prince through my pans and my kitchen.” of Benevento, Minister of External As he was extremely busy with his political Relations for Napoleon Bonaparte, the career, he did not have much time for the future Emperor Napoleon I. His wines were estate, which he sold in 1804. introduced to the highest political circles. A man of taste and a lover of good food, Talleyrand commissioned the services of Marie-Antoine (known as Antonin) Carême, nicknamed “the King of chefs and the chef to Kings”. A clever strategist, he made use of Carême’s inimitable dishes,
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The classification of 1855
In 1836, Joseph Eugène Larrieu bought red wine, alongside Margaux, Lafite and the Château and devoted himself to Latour. Historically, in many aspects, the property. In 1855, he received just this 1855 classification was the direct reward for his efforts for Château descendant of the remarks made by Haut-Brion. That year, at the Paris World Thomas Jefferson in 1787. Fair, the Association of Bordeaux Wine Despite this success, the three generations Merchants, on request from the Gironde of the Larrieu family, who owned the estate Chamber of Commerce, drew up an from 1836 to 1896, suffered as a result of official classification of the best wines the political upheavals and the diseases of Bordeaux. The merchants based their that affected Bordeaux vineyards in the conclusions on the prices achieved on latter half of the 19th century. In 1859, the markets over the previous centuries. on his father’s death, Château Haut-Brion was named one of the Amédée (1807-1873) took control of four “Premiers Grands Crus Classés” for Château Haut-Brion’s destiny.
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The Larrieu family and “the spirit of the Girondins”
Like many Haut-Brion owners, he combined He led a very fierce fight against the winemaking with a political career. As the disease, which he managed to overcome head of the estate, he successfully coped by completely rebuilding his vineyard with the ravages of powdery mildew, using a rootstock from North America, gradually replanting the vineyard. He the riverbank grape (Vitis riparia). also modernised the cellars, supervised wine production and developed outlets It was also one of the first to bottle in the English market. After 1870, he was its wine systematically on the estate, re-elected as member of Parliament then from 1923 onwards. In January 1925, became Prefect of the Gironde. André Gibert, an eccentric character but The Bordeaux people said proudly of a good winegrower, purchased Château him that he embodied “the spirit of the Haut-Brion and managed it for nine years. Girondins” of revolutionary France. Old and sick, without an heir, he began looking for a sufficiently powerful and He died in 1873, leaving his son Eugène influential character to stop his treasured (1848-1896) in charge of the estate. land being built on and to restore the Born in Château Haut-Brion and a lawyer château to its former glory. And so like his father, Eugène was famous for the person who would offer Château stating with conviction that “phylloxera Haut-Brion its third golden age, whose would not dare to show its face here!” descendants are still at the helm of the Unfortunately, the aphid devastated estate, entered the frame. vineyards all over Europe, hitting Château Haut-Brion hard in 1880. exceptional wines
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The arrival of the Dillon family
In 1934, Clarence Dillon, a New York banker, In September 1939, when the Second visited Château Haut-Brion during a trip World War broke out, Clarence Dillon to France. While he was on the steamer converted Château Haut-Brion into a taking him back to the United States, he hospital, to receive wounded officers received a telegram informing him that from the French Army. Throughout this In September 1939, he could buy Haut-Brion, but only if he period, he worked as an unofficial liaison acted quickly. His response was clear: “Act agent between the American and British when the Second World War broke out, quickly!” The purchase was finalised on 13 governments. His crucial role was not May 1935 and a fourth dynasty took over recognised until much later. Clarence Dillon converted the reins. The modern era of Haut-Brion In 1961, they modernised the vat room, could now begin. bringing in new stainless steel vats. Château Haut-Brion into The history of the Dillon family follows From 1975 to 2008, his granddaughter that of 20th century France. From 1935 Joan Dillon accomplished an impressive a hospital, to receive wounded officers to the present day, no other vineyard has project that would enable Château Haut- been associated for such a long time with Brion to enter the 21st century. Passionate from the French Army. an American family, who adored France about interior decor and a woman and its way of life. of great taste, she completely renovated Throughout this period, he worked as When Clarence Dillon bought Château the château interior, building and installing Haut-Brion in 1935, he came even closer the elegant entrance gates and creating an unofficial liaison agent between the to France. A visionary, he made an impulse the park that surrounds the château. purchase, aware that he was buying In 1979, she was joined by her husband the American and British governments. a part of the history of the country he Duke of Mouchy, who worked alongside loved, despite its trials and tribulations, her to manage the family company. In 1991, economic crises, the war and the fall she inaugurated the high-tech vat room in wine sales. Clarence Dillon and his at Château Haut-Brion, next to the brand nephew Seymour Weller did everything new Cour des Artisans. they could to modernise the estate. They immediately installed electricity and a new plumbing system, redesigned the park and its grounds, cut the trees and renovated the cellars.
46 exceptional wines The fourth generation
Under the leadership of her son, Prince Designed by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Robert of Luxembourg, the renovation the Château Haut-Brion library is a circular of Château Haut-Brion’s magnificent room with shelves that go from the floor buildings was completed. Certified to the ceiling with hidden doorways. It is to High Quality Environmental standard very highly regarded throughout Europe (materials that comply with sustainable - much like the library of Arnaud III de development as much as possible, Pontac several centuries before - for its energy efficiency, water efficiency first editions and rare books on gastronomy and harmonious relationship with the and wine. immediate environment), these include new reception rooms, new offices and a kitchen suitable for top chefs, so that the art of hospitality, so dear to Domaine Clarence Dillon, can be practised.
48 exceptional wines After several centuries of history, the legend of Château Haut-Brion was born The soul of a Premier Grand Cru: exceptional wines 53 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Cru Classé de Graves
Left bank 29 hectares
In 1682, the Lazarist Fathers, a congregation founded by St. Vincent de Paul, took possession of the legacy of Mrs. Olive de Lestonnac. The monks worked hard for over a century to restore the estate to its former glory. The subsequent owners continued their efforts at La Mission Haut-Brion. CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION LA CHAPELLE DE LA MISSION HAUT-BRION CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION BLANC LA CLARTÉ DE HAUT-BRION
Complex, full-bodied and rich… Château La Mission Haut-Brion Containing a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot Sought-after by wine lovers all over the world, Château This second white wine, with a light golden colour, comes from red wines invites the most complimentary descriptions. Over the Noir and 5% Cabernet Franc, La Chapelle de La Mission La Mission Haut-Brion white wine is extremely rare (500 Châteaux Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion. Blended years, these wines have risen to the ranks of Premiers Grands Haut-Brion develops aromas of tobacco, black fruit and to 600 cases). Containing an average 85% Sémillon and from the two second wines of these properties, Clarté de Crus Classés (Classified First Growth vintages). Containing 47% a characteristic smoky hint. Produced in very “confidential” 14% Sauvignon Blanc with a dash of Muscadelle, this Haut-Brion is made from Sémillon (90% on average) and Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the quantities, this red wine is the gateway to the world of Château voluptuous wine is rich and concentrated with a wonderfully Sauvignon Blanc (10% on average). Wine lovers now have blend changes according to the vintage, but Château La Mission La Mission Haut-Brion (3,000 to 3,500 cases). The key concept long finish. Previously known as Château Laville Haut-Brion, the chance to find out how Sémillon expresses itself in a dry Haut-Brion red wine always retains its unparalleled charisma. that defines this wine is pleasure, as it bewitches all the senses, Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a wine for the initiated. It white wine, at a very young age. Its fruity, floral aromas are A highly enchanting wine of great intensity, its complexity even when young. It possesses all the harmony and seductive is unique: when young, it has the characteristics of a great extremely fresh and uniquely complex, all good reasons for and the characteristic signature of its terroir with empyreumatic characteristics of its famous older brother. Gewurztraminer. Over time, it takes on the amber colour exploring its finesse and aromatic expression (around 1,000 notes (cigar, chocolate, roasting, cedar wood, etc.) are its most of a great Sauternes wine. This dry white wine expresses cases per vintage). A wonderful introduction to its elder seductive attributes. Round and generous on the palate, without all the attributes of a Graves sweet wine, specific to the brothers. a hint of aggression, it lengthens into silky tannins, so noticeable Sémillon grown on these famous terroirs. you will melt under its charm when you taste it. A history of a sacred charm
In 1983, under the leadership of Joan Dillon, Duchess of Mouchy, Domaine Clarence Dillon acquired Château La Mission Haut-Brion. The two jewels facing each other on the outskirts of Bordeaux, separated for so long, were finally united.
Ancient links
Historically speaking, the two properties have been connected since 1540, when the Bordeaux merchant Arnaud de Lestonnac purchased a plot known as Arregedhuys, the starting point for La Mission Haut-Brion. That same year, he married Marie, the only sister of Jean de Pontac, the true father of Château Haut-Brion. Aware of the tremendous potential of Graves de Haut- Brion thanks to his relationship with the Pontacs, Arnaud de Lestonnac worked hard, plant by plant and plot by plot, to create an estate dedicated entirely to winegrowing. Upon his death in 1548, his fourth son Pierre took over the business. The year 1572 was an especially happy one: he became a “jurat” (type of judge) in Bordeaux, began new building work on the property - a house and a cellar - and his daughter Olive was born. She would play an even more important role in the history of the vineyard.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
56 exceptional wines The Lestonnacs and the birth of La Mission Haut-Brion
Olive de Lestonnac devoted her life and Olive de Lestonnac died at the age of her fortune to various philanthropic and 80. Her will mentions 200,000 pounds religious actions. Three times married and donated to a number of religious three times widowed, with no children, causes - a colossal sum at the time, she focused on her charity work. She but a fraction of what she gave away followed in the religious, charitable tradition in her lifetime. After a few twists and started by her aunt, Saint Jeanne de turns, this annuity led to the creation of Lestonnac, who founded the Sisters of La Mission Haut-Brion. In 1682, the the Company of Mary Our Lady in 1607, legacy was transferred to the Lazarists which still carries out charitable works of Bordeaux, also known as the Priests all over the world today. of the Mission. La Mission Haut-Brion Saint Jeanne was also the niece of came into being, under the ownership the humanist philosopher Michel de of the Catholic Church. Montaigne. It is particularly interesting to note how the connection between the great Montaigne and the history of Domaine Clarence Dillon spans the centuries. Clarence Dillon made a donation to the City of Bordeaux in 1951 so that it could purchase the “Livre de Raison” by the great philosopher and essayist.
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The Priests of the Mission
On their arrival, the Lazarist priests began One day, he tasted a wine that he to develop the vineyard, transforming considered especially remarkable and the remaining plots of coppices into asked his servant where it came from, vine. Throughout the 18th century, they who said: “La Mission Haut-Brion.” Using worked hard to improve the cultivation the words of his great-uncle Cardinal of the vines and the quality and Richelieu, the Marshal cried: “If God reputation of their wine. They also built forbade drinking, would He have made The Mission Congregation accounts, drawn the Chappelle de Notre-Dame d’Aubrion wine so good?” From that day onwards, in 1698, known as the Chapel of Our the new Governor regularly served up on 13 February 1729, counted eight Lady of the Mission, which was blessed La Mission Haut-Brion wine at his table. and consecrated for the brotherhood. His successor to the post of Governor priests, four brothers and five servants. The Mission Congregation accounts, drawn was Marshal Philippe de Noailles, Duke up on 13 February 1729, counted eight of Mouchy (ancestor of Philippe de priests, four brothers and five servants. Noailles, future husband of Joan Dillon At that time, the estate produced 24 and Managing Director of Domaine barrels of wine, the equivalent of 21.6 Clarence Dillon from 1978 to 2003), hectolitres. a man of sophisticated but more austere In 1755, Marshal Louis Armand de tastes. He always served La Mission Vignerot du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu, Haut-Brion wine at his table, but with was appointed Governor of Guyenne more moderation. Returning to the Court province. Until that time, like most French of Louis XVI, where he held high office, nobles, he had preferred the wines of he continued to offer his favourite wine Burgundy, as Bordeaux was considered to his hosts. an “English” wine, but he now began to discover the wines of Bordeaux.
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The Revolution
In the early 1790s, the French Revolution pounds. This sum clearly shows the immense hit Bordeaux hard and the estate was work accomplished by the Lazarists at the confiscated in 1792. The untouchable Château La Mission Haut- Brion. authority of the Church under the Ancien Régime led to its demise. In 1821, his daughter, caring little for the property, sold it to Célestin Coudrin- Following the Revolution, it was forced Chiapella, the first American owner to to give all its property over to the State. fall under its charm. The Mission therefore became a target of the Revolutionary forces, and was sold at Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1774, auction as a “national asset” to a Bordeaux Chiapella was the adopted son of a businessman, Martial-Victor Vaillant. rich Genoese merchant. He purchased the property with the aim of retiring The main house, production buildings to Bordeaux, where he already worked as and the 25 hectares of vineyard, initially a merchant and managed several estates, estimated at 100,000 pounds, were including Château Cos d’Estournel. given to Martial-Victor Vaillant for 302,000 The Chiapellas: from New Orleans to Bordeaux
The Chiapellas – Célestin and his son Thanks to his links with Louisiana, Jérôme – continued to improve the property. Célestin Chiapella developed trade They enclosed the vineyard and, according between Bordeaux and New Orleans and to a drawing found in the Lazarist archives, at the same time, he continued to develop built the superb wrought iron gate that the vineyard and improve the quality of still stands at the entrance to the estate. the wine. As a reward for their efforts, To symbolise the links between France and Château La Mission Haut-Brion won the the United States, Chiapella built a model gold medal at the International Exhibition in of a boat. The original can be admired in London in 1862. In 1884, Jérôme Chiapella the Mission’s Chapter Room named after sold the estate to Établissements Duval the room where the religious communities de Paris. held meetings. A miniature version is used as At that time, Château La Mission Haut-Brion a weathervane on the roof of the residence, enjoyed a wonderful reputation in France, illustrating the powerful connections Great Britain and the United States. between the Old and the New World.
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The Woltner family: the modern era
In 1919, La Mission Haut-Brion entered interior and exterior of the property. They During the Second World War, the Woltners the modern era when it was purchased by purchased wrought iron arcades made in were forced to house German officers. Frédéric Otto Woltner, another Bordeaux Toledo, Spain, similar in style to the gate The dignity and reserve of the family merchant. installed by the Chiapellas, and positioned ensured that the occupiers behaved Despite the many changes in ownership them along the front of the château. Inside, civilly, preventing the cellar from being over the previous 25 years, the estate the new decor consisted mainly of objects plundered. The legitimate owners were In 1926, with the help of his two sons, was still extremely highly thought of, even and statues of religious origin, in honour however immensely relieved to regain though Château La Mission Haut-Brion of the estate’s past. full possession of their estate in 1945, a Frédéric Woltner brought La Mission into was still using old 19th century technology, The Woltners collected holy water fonts of year when they produced one of the best like most of the great Bordeaux vineyards. all shapes and sizes to decorate the walls vintages of the century. the modern era. He was the first to install In 1926, with the help of his two sons, of the château and the chapel. Henri Woltner died in October 1974, having enamelled steel vats with Frédéric Woltner brought La Mission into The chapel was once again blessed and overseen the production of 50 vintages at the modern era. He was the first to install consecrated and occasionally used for Château La Mission Haut-Brion. vitrified interior coating. enamelled steel vats with vitrified interior religious services. Francis Dewavrin, the husband of one of coating. This remarkable innovation for Frédéric Woltner began the tradition his nieces, then managed the business the time helped to control the temperature of inscribing the most prestigious successfully for several years. better during the fermentation process. Château La Mission Haut-Brion vintages From 1927 onwards, he also produced in gold lettering in the Chapel. Inscribed Château La Mission Haut-Brion White. at the base of the Notre-Dame d’Aubrion Since the 2009 vintage, the estate’s vaulted ceiling, they seem to pave the way white wine, which was known as to the gates of Paradise. On his death in Château Laville Haut-Brion for a long 1933, the estate passed to his three children. time, has borne the name chosen by As he had worked alongside his father and Frédéric Woltner. At the same time, studied oenology, Henri was the natural father and son significantly changed the heir to manage La Mission.
66 exceptional wines The reunion with Château Haut-Brion
When Château La Mission Haut-Brion was put up for sale, Domaine Clarence Dillon was one of the primary candidates to take it over. Their offer was accepted in 1983, with the sale taking place on 2 November. This acquisition was the culmination of a relationship fostered over 40 years between Seymour Weller, manager of Domaine Clarence Dillon, and the Woltner family. In 1955, Seymour and Thérèse Weller presented their young cousin, Joan Dillon, to the Woltner family, on her very first visit to La Mission Haut-Brion. Their stories and encounters were linked over the years... In 1983, the Duchess of Mouchy asked her son, Prince Robert, aged 15 at the time, to leave his boarding school in Sussex to witness the signature of the deed of sale.
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The Dillon family: the soul of a Premier Grand Cru The sixth Premier Cru wine
Inspired by the ecclesiastical ethics and In 2007, new cellars were built, plus a On 10 March 2009, Liv-Ex, the leading devotion of the Lazarists, the Dillon family tasting room sculpted by the best Italian global marketplace for fine wines, reviewed immediately began to improve the whole woodworkers, which now features original the 1855 classification to create a new estate and take La Mission into a new engravings by Albrecht Dürer, plus a bottling classification for Bordeaux wines in the Renaissance. centre and an improved storage area. context of the modern economy. The Like the Good Fathers, the Dillons started However, the jewel in the crown of this most notable difference was the inclusion with the vineyard. A new, ultra-modern vat major renovation project is a vibrant new of Château La Mission Haut-Brion as a house was installed, opened to mark the 1987 tribute to the Lazarist brothers. Returning Premier Cru wine! vintage, followed by significant renovations to the Frontenac quarries – which in the In May 2008, 26 journalists gathered in to the château, chapel and cellars. 18th century supplied the stone for the the London restaurant The Square to In 1996, a new bottling chain was most beautiful monuments in Bordeaux taste 51 Château La Mission Haut-Brion introduced and a new tasting room was built, – the estate chose this material to build vintages. Prince Robert of Luxembourg christened the Chapter Room, in honour of the Grand Chai, described as a “modern invited the greatest critics in the world to the Lazarists. In addition to the new buildings, cathedral to wine”. Finally, cloisters were take part in a rare chronological tasting refurbishment and the modernisation of built to welcome visitors before they enter from 1953 to 2005, to celebrate 25 years production, the roads and paths on the the Grand Chai. of the Dillon family’s ownership of the estate were enlarged, and some were The new tasting room, the Grand Chai, estate. even paved. Although the French-style the cloisters and the new gardens, Robert Parker wrote in Vintage Profile: gardens were kept, they were simplified inaugurated in 2009, were the brainchild of “In my personal collection, I have more to make them more appealing, while the Prince Robert of Luxembourg, who drew bottles of La Mission Haut-Brion than famous iron arcades imported from Spain the initial sketches, inspired by the charm any other wine in the world. La Mission and the 19th century gate were meticulously of this magical place. has been one of the best wines for a restored. This gate is of such historical long time, and one of the most constant interest that it is now listed in the Additional in terms of quality.” Inventory of Historical Monuments. In 2000, all the rooms in the château were completely redecorated by the Duchess of Mouchy.
70 exceptional wines Château La Mission Haut-Brion, the soul of a Premier Grand Cru The fifth child of a great family: exceptional wines 75 Château Quintus Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Right bank 28 hectares
In June 2011, Domaine Clarence Dillon acquired a beautiful property in Saint-Émilion, now renamed Château Quintus. In October 2013, Château Quintus itself acquired the neighbouring property, Château L’Arrosée. These two exceptional estates now form a 28-hectare vineyard producing one of the best Saint-Émilion wines. CHÂTEAU QUINTUS LE DRAGON DE QUINTUS SAINT-ÉMILION
This wine takes its natural place alongside the great Its symbol rooted in the history of the property, the Receiving the same attention given to Château Quintus reds and whites of Château Haut-Brion and Château Dragon, guardian and protector of a magical land, and Le Dragon de Quintus, Saint-Émilion de Quintus is La Mission Haut-Brion, and is now the fifth child in this watching over the landscape of Saint-Émilion as it grown in the same soil and under the same conditions illustrious family. The first Château Quintus vintage was stretches into the horizon, was the name chosen by as its elder brothers. The nose of ripe red fruit is produced in 2011. Containing mainly Merlot Noir with a Domaine Clarence Dillon for the second Château Quintus complemented by woody, balanced notes that enrich little Cabernet Franc, the perfectly ripe red and black fruit wine. Le Dragon de Quintus has a beautiful scarlet colour the aromatic range. Deep red in colour, Saint-Émilion aromas unveil a supple, even creamy wine, quite tight on and is predominantly composed of Merlot Noir, with a de Quintus is initially full-bodied, then reveals smooth, the palate. It then develops into a fairly long finish with little Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its nose juicy tannins. The third wine from Château Quintus, the a good amount of flavour. Château Quintus has a deep reveals ripe notes of cherry and raspberry. Supple and latest offering from Domaine Clarence Dillon was first ruby red colour, reflective of its power and elegance. balanced, it leaves a beautiful sensation on the palate. produced in 2014. The revelation exceptional wines 79 of an exceptional terroir
One year after purchasing Château Haut-Brion, Clarence Dillon was making plans to purchase a property on the Bordeaux right bank, in Saint-Émilion to be precise. This medieval town and its limestone promontories offer a very different landscape to the gentle undulations of the Graves and the Médoc. With some of the most illustrious vineyards in the region, it is one of the treasures of Bordeaux. However, Clarence Dillon would never buy his château on the right bank. Sixty-five years later, in 2011, his great-grandson, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, realised his dream. In purchasing a property now known as Château Quintus, on the south-western slopes of the famous limestone plateau, the Dillon family finally added a magnificent Saint-Émilion estate to its list of properties.
A unique site
Despite its exceptional location, the property They were long-term investments, driven required significant investment and skilful by the intimate conviction that the wine management. However, when Clarence was of cultural importance. Dillon bought Haut-Brion in 1935 and when Château Quintus was acquired in the the family acquired La Mission Haut-Brion same spirit, with a sound faith in the future. in 1983, neither estate was profitable and One of the family’s first initiatives was investment was risky in both cases. These to change the name of the estate. purchases were labours of love and every This wine, which takes its natural place effort was made to restore the properties, alongside the great reds and whites through a passion for the history of the of Château Haut-Brion and Château estate, the potential of its soil and the La Mission Haut-Brion, is now the fifth hope that these efforts would bear fruit. child in this illustrious family.
The Gallo-Romans, founders of the Saint-Émilion vineyard, had the custom of naming their fifth child Quintus (fifth in Latin). Domaine Clarence Dillon therefore decided to pay homage to its glorious predecessors by christening the wine Château Quintus. exceptional wines
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A very ancient vineyard with an extraordinary past Galhaud’s influence
Saint-Émilion is one of the oldest in reference to a mythical creature that that, between 1844 and 1848, Quintus The Alezais family remained in control Nurseries for over 30 years, Galhaud finally sold at auction in 1978. vineyards in the region, planted in the watches over and protects its treasure, sold its barrels at an average of 500 of the Château until the late 19th century, produced “rooted-graft” vine plants The Tertre Daugay auction was won by fourth or fifth century BC, if not earlier. this fabulous terroir. francs, the same price as the 14 most when it was sold to Eugène Robin, from the best clonal selections, which Count Léo de Malet Roquefort, one of It was colonised in 27 BC under the In 1840, Philippe Alezais, one of the expensive wines in the region at the an influential banker. After the First were already assembled and ready the oldest and most famous families reign of Emperor Augustus by the Gallo- descendants of the first known owner time. The price of Quintus was exactly World War and the global economic to plant. Aiming to improve the quality in the region, who had already owned Romans, who created the first vineyards of the estate, took possession of the the same as Château Ausone – now one crisis of the 1930s, the property was of French wines, he supervised a large Château La Gaffelière for over 400 in the Aquitaine by grafting new grape Quintus vines. Seven years later, he of the rarest Bordeaux wines. purchased by Léon Galhaud, who number of replantings, particularly years. The estate was managed by the varieties to the Vitis Biturica plants that united the plots that make up the current For nearly a century, “Bordeaux and its already owned several wonderful in Saint-Émilion. Malet Roquefort family for 30 years, grew naturally in the region. Château estate, as Jean de Pontac had done for wines”, the essential Cocks and Féret Saint-Émilion châteaux. He was known He was also one of the key personalities then sold to the Dillon family in 2011. Quintus is deeply rooted in this heritage, Haut-Brion three centuries earlier. directory, systematically referred to the for his precise, scientific, approach to who helped to re-establish the “Jurade as several Roman relics have been found An engraving by Charles Lallemand, property as a Saint-Émilion Premier Cru. the vines, at a time when the advantages de Saint-Émilion”, an association that on the land. The history of Quintus goes published in Les Grands Vins de Gironde, The estate was also one of the finest in of tests such as soil analysis and had disappeared after the French back to the beginnings of Saint-Émilion. by F.G. Dumas, shows the harmony of the appellation, helping Saint-Émilion to measuring the sugar and acidity content Revolution. Most commentators think that the the plants, unfolding over the Southern win a gold medal at the Paris World Fair of the grapes were rarely practised by His son, Jean-Jacques Galhaud, original name, Daugay, comes from the flanks of the hillside. In one of his texts, in 1867. Whereas the 1855 classification winegrowers. worked the vines with his father, but watchtower from which guards looked Dumas writes: “One could not imagine a set out the rules for the wines from A remarkable figure in French viticulture, was also a merchant, trading in wines out over the surroundings of the fortified more picturesque situation and, above all, Bordeaux’s left bank, the 1867 Exhibition Léon Galhaud was a disciple of from the whole region. A pioneer in town in the Middle Ages. Going even one more favourable to the production of was of crucial importance for the wines Professor Louis Ravaz, who instigated wine marketing, he created customised further back, during the Celts, there is a Premier Cru wine (...). Thanks to the from the right bank. and popularised the process of grafting, advertising and bottles. At this time, in evidence of an oppidum (fortification) excellent vinification, the wine harvested enabling European vineyards to 1955, the property was recognised as built on the plateau overlooking Saint- here possesses all the qualities of body, recover after the phylloxera invasion. one of the top Saint-Émilion appellations. Émilion, almost certainly on the same suppleness and vigour that characterise In the 20th century, he played a key Following the death of his father, however, site. Inspired by these historical facts, the the great wines of Saint-Émilion.” In the role in the history of viticulture, in Jean-Jacques Galhaud unfortunately Dillon family has named the second wine 20th century, Henri Enjalbert discovered France and worldwide. As President experienced financial difficulties. from the property Le Dragon de Quintus, in the Lawton wine merchants archives of the French Association of Vine The vineyard was neglected and was
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The Dillon family: the start of a new era
Since acquiring the property, the family making the dragon a fabulous creature has made every effort to put in practice with a keen view, protecting a priceless the principles applied over the decades treasure, this statue created by Mark at Château Haut-Brion and Château Coreth with widely spread wings will La Mission Haut-Brion. Jean-Philippe become the symbol of the estate. Delmas and Jean-Philippe Masclef have Prince Robert of Luxembourg designed adopted the same approach, plot by plot, a new bottle, especially for Quintus, vine by vine, as in the family’s other inspired by the old Château Haut-Brion estates. In July and August 2011, therefore, bottles dating from the mid-19th century, before the first harvests, they worked such as the one recently discovered meticulously on the vines. in a pirate’s cache near the island of From the first vintage, they supervised Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean. As in the the sorting of the harvest with extreme past, these bottles have a raised seal thoroughness. During the blending, engraved on the neck. Quintus is still a they carried out in-depth research and new adventure for the Dillon family, as operated a drastic selection. the immense potential of this wonderful Only 65 barrels of Château Quintus terroir slowly emerges from its slumber. 2011 and 66 of Le Dragon de Quintus 2011 were produced – and immediately acclaimed by international critics. Overlooking the valley, a huge bronze dragon statue of six meters wingspan is installed on the promontory that once hosted a watchtower to watch over the property. Inspired by Western legend
82 exceptional wines Château Quintus in Saint-Émilion, the fifth child of a great family Heritage and know-how: exceptional wines 87 Clarendelle, Inspired by Haut-Brion
Bordeaux is still the worldwide benchmark in wine and deserves to be enjoyed on all manner of occasions. With exceptional terroirs, highly qualified and passionate men and women and centuries-old expertise, everything was in place for the creation of a premium Bordeaux wine brand, the ambassador for Domaine Clarence Dillon. Clarendelle, Inspired by Haut-Brion, is an elegant, traditional brand, a family of wines that are the perfect complement to the Domaine Clarence Dillon collection. Elegant, modern wines exceptional wines 89
Today, wine lovers like to seek out names they can trust, as an alternative to the big New World brands. Clarendelle is the “Old World” counterpart of a New World creation: a premium wine brand. Although the inspiration and style of Domaine Clarence Dillon wines have strong traditional roots, Clarendelle satisfies an emerging desire among wine lovers looking for elegant, modern wines. The Clarendelle family of wines is the perfect representative of the Bordeaux terroir, initiating wine lovers from all over the world to the blending traditions and techniques of the great Bordeaux producers. As Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman of Domaine Clarence Dillon says, “When I was a young man living in London, I didn’t have a cellar and I wanted good wine, ready for drinking straightaway, at an affordable price, but with a quality that was always similar to the previous vintage. While sharing this pleasure with my loved ones of course. That’s how I imagined Clarendelle.”
“When I was a young man living in London, I didn’t have a cellar and I wanted good wine, ready for drinking straightaway, at an affordable price, but with a quality that was always similar to the previous vintage. While sharing this pleasure with my loved ones of course. That’s how I imagined Clarendelle.”
Prince Robert de Luxembourg
88 exceptional wines CLARENDELLE RED CLARENDELLE WHITE CLARENDELLE ROSÉ CLARENDELLE AMBERWINE
Clarendelle Red conveys balance rather than strength. The Clarendelle White is inspired by the subtle, harmonious The first premium rosé wine to see the day in the history of The subtle character and structure of Clarendelle subtle character and structure of Clarendelle Red come structure of Domaine Clarence Dillon white wines, Domaine Clarence Dillon wines, Clarendelle Rosé joins the Amberwine comes from its two forms of grape from its clever blend of three traditional Bordeaux red containing all the complexity and finesse of its illustrious dynamic tradition of rosé wines. Premium quality, delicate ripening, Botrytis Cinerea (where the grape develops varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. cousins. Clarendelle White is a clever blend of two and subtle, this harmonious, elegant wine is a blend of a noble rot as in the Sauternes) and late harvesting. By combining the quality and characteristics of each traditional Bordeaux varietals, Sémillon and Sauvignon Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Amberwine takes its name from the magnificent varietal, the Clarence Dillon Wines teams have obtained a Blanc. amber colour developed by the wine after ten years’ harmonious wine that determines the tone of Clarendelle ageing. Amberwine is a blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Red. Aged in our cellars and sold only when we feel that Blanc and Muscadelle. they fully express their qualities and can be immediately enjoyed, or even cellared for a few years. Depending on the vintage, Clarendelle Red is also produced in appellations: Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Émilion, Médoc, and so on. Left Bank The quintessence Right Bank of unique terroirs les vins
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Left bank : Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion
The history and the terroirs of Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion are intimately linked. Crossed by the road leading from Pessac to Talence, in the heart of the Graves appellation, the two properties face each other like twin sisters, very close yet very different.
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Ideal natural conditions
Managing a vineyard is a complex From 20 centimetres to over 3 metres art. Creating a wine involves a subtle thick, the gravel deposits form slopes balance between the typical soils, the that enjoy excellent exposure, with most appropriate varietals and their natural drainage reinforced by a large management methods, the region’s hydrographic network of small water climate and human experience. courses, tributaries of the Garonne. The Château Haut-Brion and Château The sun is reflected by the soil, concentrating La Mission Haut-Brion vines enjoy a its rays on the bunches of grapes, which special climate, with warm, dry summers gain optimum maturity throughout the and mild autumns. The vines are staggered spring and summer. Cabernet Sauvignon, in terraces 20-30 metres above sea level, Merlot and Cabernet Franc for red wines protected from the mist of the lower (50 hectares at Haut-Brion and 25.5 Garonne valley and the occasionally heavy hectares at La Mission Haut- Brion), rain of the Gironde moorland. Sémillon and Sauvignon for white The gravel soil lies on a single subsoil of wines (3 hectares at Haut-Brion and clay, sand, limestone and falun (limestone 3.5 hectares at La Mission Haut-Brion) shell) established at the end of the have been selected over the centuries Tertiary era, then during the Quaternary for their perfect adaptability to the soils era throughout the Ice Ages. and climate of the region. At the end of summer, when the warmth of the sun’s rays starts to wane, the winegrowers begin preparing for the harvest.
Harvesting and wine production
As the last days of summer draw near, The fruit is placed in a vat and the the sun rises later and sets earlier, and temperature is gradually raised so that autumn arrives, in peaceful tranquillity. fermentation can begin. Thanks to The air is calm, the sun takes its time to technology and precise temperature complete its work and the grapes finally control, the fermentation is fully controlled. ripen. These few phrases perfectly sum Two weeks later, when the colours, tannins up the period, almost suspended in time, and principal aromas have delivered their before the frenetic harvest begins, the full potential, it’s time to drain the vats. This culmination of a whole year’s work. is the moment of truth, each vat containing The grapes are harvested by hand a wine with its own unique personality. according to their ripeness, then sorted The best wines are selected for and de-stalked (the stalk is separated from Château Haut-Brion and Château the fruit) leaving only the quintessence, La Mission Haut-Brion and placed in new which will determine the greatness of barrels for 20 to 24 months. Ageing helps the vintage. to develop the wine, gently oxygenate it and form its character. The wine is then bottled to continue the slow ageing process.
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Right bank Château Quintus
In 2011, the Domaine Clarence Dillon team began playing a new tune, taking a new terroir on the Right Bank under its wing. Château Quintus is at the South- western end of the Saint-Émilion plateau, sharing this beautiful location with some of the most famous names in the appellation. This exceptional site enjoys a unique terroir: perched on a limestone promontory overlooking the whole of the Dordogne valley, the Château Quintus vines extend over a stunning landscape. The originality of the terroir lies in its diversity of soils, slopes and aspects, all contributing to produce what is undoubtedly one of the very best Saint-Emilion wines.
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Saint-Émilion, the unique Château Quintus terroir
Perched on a limestone promontory (knoll) The southern hillside is mostly planted with at 62 m in altitude, overlooking the whole of Merlot. The grapes ripen early on the limestone the Dordogne valley, the Château Quintus slopes, as they face south. These plots vines extend over a stunning landscape. guarantee optimum maturity and a high Quintus benefits from exceptional biodiversity, concentration of tannins, resulting in the including oak woods, hornbeam copses and famous strength of Château Quintus. the acacia and willow trees that adorn the The northern slopes are planted with magnificent grounds around the residence. Cabernet Franc and produce the finest The uniqueness of this superb microclimate Cabernets in the Libournais region. lies in the diversity of its soils, slopes and The healthiness of the vines and aspects. The main feature of the soil is the late harvests mean we can wait a succession of limestone strata on all until the grapes are perfectly ripe. the south-facing slopes of the plateau. The 28-hectare vineyard contains To the north of the property, the limestone 66% Merlot Noir, 26% Cabernet Franc is replaced by a clay-limestone mixture and and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, with by gravel soil that faces south. an average vine age of 30 years.
Harvesting and wine production
The grapes are harvested by hand, using After sorting, alcoholic fermentation takes small crates. The bunches are placed on a place in wooden vats, with stainless steel vibrating table that removes all the little stalks vats used for alcoholic and malolactic and other debris. They are then transferred fermentation. During maceration, the wine to the sorting table, where six people remove is tasted regularly. the leaves and any fruit that is not sufficiently The fundamental stage of the blending ripe or damaged. process comes next, as each vat is tasted After passing through the stalk separator, until the blend is considered satisfactory. removing the stalks that can give the wine This is a long, rigorous process, essential to a bitter, green taste, the grapes are selected understanding the structure of a new wine. by optical sorting. They are sucked up by a The same process is used for Haut-Brion flow of air and anything that is not perfectly and La Mission Haut-Brion, making this the spherical, such as stalk fragments or damaged decisive moment of the winemaking year. grapes, is rejected. Only perfect grapes will reach their final destination: the vats. The grapes are then taken to a conveyor belt and just before they fall, are lightly crushed to release a little of the juice for vinification. The main stage of grape sorting takes place in the vines, just after ripening – the fruit that ripens too slowly is rejected, to ensure the harvest is as uniform as possible - but the final stage, in the cellar, guarantees extra 100 enjoyment when it comes to drinking. the quintessence of unique terroirs People of Domaine Clarence Dillon Domaine Clarence Dillon: people of Domaine Clarence Dillon 105 Passionate, artistic professions
The wines of Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion are now famous all over the world. This is of course due to the particular ecosystem of their terroir, but also to the sum of human intelligence that has contributed to the vines and the winemaking, up to the present day. To ensure the continuity of this unrivalled expertise, our expert wine team devotes its work to all the families of wines at Domaine Clarence Dillon: Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Quintus and Clarendelle. Here, we present this committed, passionate team.
PRINCE ROBERT DE LUXEMBOURG JEAN- PHILIPPE DELMAS JEAN- PHILIPPE MASCLEF PASCAL BARATIÉ
Great-grandson of Clarence Dillon and Deputy Managing Director Technical Director Vineyard Manager Chairman of Domaine Clarence Dillon wines and estates Two roles, two complementary passions. A The gallery of artists would not be complete From a very young age, Robert of Behind this slightly austere title lies a man scientist and oenologist, he works in tandem without this man and his team, taking care Luxembourg knew that Domaine devoted to his art. Jean-Philippe Delmas, with the Cellar Master, like a composer of the vines. A true gardener, his job is to Clarence Dillon would be his passion. the third generation of his family in charge and a librettist, creating the great wine enhance the quality of the terroir. Conscious that he holds a portion of of producing Château Haut-Brion wines, tells that is coveted by wine lovers all over His role is to produce the best grapes, France’s history in his hands, following a new story every year. A true artist of wine, the world. For Jean-Philippe Masclef, a working tirelessly all year long. Like a luthier, in the steps of his ancestors, he he is a writer, drawing on the subject matter great wine is one you remember. He and he creates the magnificent instruments continues the work begun by Jean given to him by nature and the work of men his team focus on a work of perfection, to be used by all the other people in this de Pontac in the 16th century. Like an and women over the seasons. like creating a new opera year after year. team. A former rugby player, he knows orchestral conductor, he is surrounded how to get the best out of his staff. by a dynamic team, all focused on the pursuit of excellence.
104 people of Domaine Clarence Dillon La Cave du Château The Parisian Residence of Le Clarence Domaine Clarence Dillon
French Art de Vivre The world of Domaine Clarence Dillon parisian residence 109 and its way of life, in a superb Parisian townhouse.
108 parisian residence A new chapter parisian residence 111
Domaine Clarence Dillon established its Parisian residence in the heart of the “Golden Triangle”, in a superb 19th century townhouse, fully restored and refurbished by the very best craftsmen. The new Parisian head office of the family company is also home to a fine wine boutique – La Cave du Château – and a gastronomic restaurant – Le Clarence. A lover of French-style living, Prince Robert of Luxembourg supervised all the decoration, hunting out paintings, vases and furniture to recreate the elegant, warm, “lived-in” atmosphere of the great Bordeaux estates in the centre of Paris. This Domaine Clarence Dillon venue therefore has an authentic air of hospitality, with all the charm and extra soul of a private residence. La Cave du Château 113 A haven for lovers of great French wines and spirits
Damien de Gironde, The beautiful façade of the private residence dedicated to the French way of life Director of La Cave according to Domaine Clarence Dillon is at number 31, Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt. The du Château traditional shop sign overlooking the street, handmade by an ornamental metalworker, heralds the entrance to La Cave du Château, an elegant fine wine boutique with a wide range of exceptional wines on the ground floor and basement of the residence. An address for the initiated, capable of satisfying anyone’s wishes, the store contains all kinds of treasures: precious vintages from the Domaine Clarence Dillon properties of course, plus a selection inspired by famous labels, and some secret vintages. Behind the magnificent walnut counter, the team of multilingual professional sommeliers will show you the diverse collection of the very best spirits and traditional aperitifs from all over France, not forgetting the spectacular large-sized bottles and the rarities that are waiting to be discovered... Next, in the air-conditioned area - kept at a constant temperature to conserve the wine in optimum conditions - you can try the premium selection of over 250 winegrowers and producers, put together by Damien de Gironde, Director of La Cave du Château. He regularly adds to this assortment of 2,400 products, as he discovers and encounters new treasures during his visits to vineyards all over France.
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Follow the steps down to the vaulted cellar, where the most precious bottles are stored, including a wonderful collection of Jeroboams, Imperials, Mathusalems and Salmanazars! To showcase the incredible variety of wines and spirits in France, La Cave du Château invites an estate or a distiller to give a talk about their wines or spirits, once or several times a month. The specially designed units are used to hold tastings in the warm, friendly atmosphere of the cellar. The vaulted cellars in the basement can also be used for private, highly exclusive tastings, on request. The whole team is always available to advise on the best food and wine combinations, organise private events or help a new customer set up their wine cellar. A beautiful wine cabinet ensures that a wide range of wines and a selection of the best champagne vintages are kept permanently chilled. Whether you have a thirst for bubbles or want a great vintage for an impromptu dinner, we have everything you need, even at the last minute. Wine lovers who are unable to come to the store can have the best wines in the cellar delivered, in record time, to Paris, the provinces or even the other side of the world. Le Clarence parisian residence 117 A sophisticated, convivial “two stars” dining experience
All the charm and soul of a private residence Christophe Pelé, Managing Director The entrance leads into a delightful paved courtyard, with delicate camellias blooming and Executive Chef of Le Clarence restaurant on a wall of greenery. Like a little rural retreat in the heart of Paris, the courtyard and its fountain are a wonderful place to enjoy an aperitif on a warm summer’s evening... If you look up, you can see the Chef Christophe Pelé and his team working hard in the kitchen, but to reach the first floor and the restaurant, you have to retrace your steps slightly and take the main staircase leading to the reception rooms. The feeling that you are entering a private house is quite disconcerting. Guests who have already visited Château Haut-Brion in Bordeaux will recognise its inimitable atmosphere and decor. A great lover of 18th century art and furnishings, Prince Robert of Luxembourg personally hunted down all the furniture, tapestries, lights and other items that decorate each space, recreating, here in Paris, the warm, elegant atmosphere of the Bordeaux estates whose destiny is in his hands. To restore this unique place to its former glory, he employed the very best craftsmen. The superb wood panelling, mouldings, antique floors, delicate floral compositions, splendid library, tables and chairs in the salons all reinforce the feeling of being a guest in a private residence. You feel instantly transported to the Enlightenment, in the epicurean, visionary setting of French-style excellence according to Domaine Clarence Dillon. parisian residence
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The excellence of French-style living in a superb Parisian townhouse
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Deliciously modern, instinctive, inspired cuisine
Insatiably curious, Christophe Pelé has a deep respect for the classical roots of French cuisine, as well as for the producers, winegrowers and artisans, the soils, crops and the seasons. This passionate chef manages Le Clarence with panache - in 2017 the Michelin Guide immediately gave the restaurant two stars, only one year after its opening. His talent lies in harmoniously working the best products into classic, unusual or daring combinations, the perfect match for the great wines from what is undoubtedly one of the best restaurant cellars in the world. Some say that the art of Living and service “à la française” are outdated. At Le Clarence, there is no doubt that what we offer is totally up to date: the extraordinary luxury of taking your time. The service is excellent and friendly, ensuring that every meal is a truly unforgettable experience. Before or after your meal, the bar and Grand Salon on the second floor are the perfect location for meetings, quiet chats or joyful groups, whether eager to meet up or reluctant to say goodbye. The chic, cosy atmosphere with its soft lighting, its game of backgammon and plush carpets, is reminiscent of the traditional English gentlemen’s club. Exclusively for restaurant guests, it is the ideal spot for a sparkling aperitif or a nightcap, looking out over the city as the flames dance in the fireplace. parisian residence
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On the third floor, three private salons, the Salon Antonin Carême, Salon Auguste Escoffier and Salon Seymour Weller, offer intimate spaces for private events and professional meetings, with discreet yet cutting-edge technical equipment. Named in honour of the personalities who have been so important in the history of gastronomy and of Domaine Clarence Dillon, these salons are suitable for all types of events.
Le Salon Antonin Carême (1784-1833) : the largest of the three private salons caters for up to 20 people, and is named after “the King of chefs and the chef to Kings”. Talleyrand’s private chef, credited with the invention of Haute Cuisine, said that “good food and good wine make the heart of a true gourmet rejoice.” A belief shared by everyone at Le Clarence.
Le Salon Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935) : the most famous chef of his time, the head chef at the Ritz influenced generations of chefs with his “Guide Culinaire” (A Guide to Modern Cookery), the Bible of French gastronomy. This second private salon caters for a maximum of 14 people.
Le Salon Seymour Weller (1892-1979) : this salon can hold up to eight people and is named after the first Chairman of the family company. Clarence Dillon’s nephew, Seymour Weller, headed the company for 40 years. He retired in 1975 and his cousin Joan Dillon – granddaughter of the founder and mother of the current Chairman, HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg – succeeded him.
122 parisian residence By opening Le Clarence restaurant in its Parisian residence, Domaine Clarence Dillon has added a new chapter to the wonderful history uniting the family company
124 with the world of gastronomy. parisian residence A sense of cultural heritage culture and heritage
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Designed by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, the Château Haut-Brion library demonstrates the importance given to culture and heritage for the Dillon family.
The oldest books in the estate’s collection can be found in the Château Haut-Brion library, which today contains over a thousand works, the oldest going back to 1516, written in Latin by the Neapolitan poet Francesco Mario Grapaldi. The library also contains old Haut-Brion harvest records from the 18th and 19th centuries, journals detailing the work performed by the different workers and harvesters, the weather reports for several centuries and a collection of precious letters written by the owners and visitors to the estate. One of these is particularly moving, as it was hand-written by Count Joseph de Fumel in 1794, only a few weeks before he was guillotined. In the letter, he leaves instructions to Sieur Giraud, the Haut-Brion steward, concerning the care to be given to the vines, the best dates for harvesting, the number of workers to hire, the wages to be paid, when to cut the vines and how to maintain the château and its outbuildings “in his absence”.
The library complements the remarkable collections of artworks and antiques gathered in the three winegrowing estates belonging to the Dillon family. As all three were built on land that had grown vines since Roman times, it is only logical that some of the first artefacts linked to wine production are lovingly stored here. At Haut-Brion, there are Roman, Greek and Etruscan relics, including amphora, coins and all kinds of drinking receptacles. La Mission Haut-Brion contains one of the largest collections of rare engravings by the German artist Albrecht Dürer. His 16th century engravings illustrate the religious and philosophical ideas familiar to the Lazarists, the founders of the estate. The art collection, which is mainly 18th century, is perfectly showcased in the beautiful surroundings of the Parisian residence and Le Clarence restaurant.
The cultural heritage is palpable, with the sense that even though more than 80 years have passed since the purchase of Château Haut-Brion by Clarence Dillon in 1935, his heirs are keen to continue the traditions through the company that bears his name, Domaine Clarence Dillon. Domaine Clarence Dillon in a few important dates history
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1st century AD 1663 1855 The first vines appeared on the future Château Haut-Brion made Château Haut-Brion became
Haut-Brion plots. innovations, creating the first “vins de one of the four Premiers
garde” (long-keeping wines, known Grands Crus Classés 1521 as “New French Claret”). in the Gironde region. Designation, for the first time, of a Bordeaux wine by the name of its 1666 1926 terroir, Haut-Brion, coupled with the Château Haut-Brion launched a Château La Mission Haut-Brion built term “Cru” (growth). new publicity concept, opening the vitrified steel vats, the first of their
Pontack’s Head, an elegant tavern kind in Bordeaux. 1533 in London. Acquisition of the Haut-Brion land 1935 by Jean de Pontac and the birth of 1787 Acquisition of Château Haut-Brion Château Haut-Brion. Thomas Jefferson visited Château by Clarence Dillon.
Haut-Brion and noted that it was 1660 “one of the four best quality vineyards” 1953 Haut-Brion appears on the wine menu in Bordeaux. Château La Mission Haut-Brion, of Charles II of England. This was Château Laville Haut-Brion, the first time that a wine brand had 1801 its white wine, and Château La Tour appeared under its name, making it Charles-Maurice de Haut-Brion, were classified as Crus the first luxury brand ever. Talleyrand-Périgord, Prince Classés de Graves.
of Benevento, acquired
Château Haut-Brion. history
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1961 1987 2001 2008 2017 Château Haut-Brion introduced Creation of a new vat house Renovation and reorganisation of the The Prince Robert of Luxembourg This vintage was the best for 50 years, The Michelin Guide awarded two stars stainless steel fermentation vats. combining recent oenological second year underground cellar. succeeded his mother, the Duchess with an ageing potential of over a to Le Clarence restaurant, which is
techniques with very ancient know- of Mouchy, as Chairman century for some headed by Chef Christophe Pelé. 1975 how. An IT system was introduced to Automne 2002 of the family company Domaine Clarence Dillon wines. Princess Joan of Luxembourg manage pumping over, aeration and To mark the 2000 vintage, ranked Domaine Clarence Dillon. 2017 (Joan Dillon), Clarence Dillon’s thermoregulation according to the 99/100 by the wine critic 2011 At the end of November, a retail granddaughter, succeeded her cousin must and lees temperatures. Robert Parker, the appearance of the 2010 Domaine Clarence Dillon acquired a site for large-size wine bottles was Seymour Weller as Chairwoman of the Château La Mission Haut-Brion bottle Celebration of the 75th anniversary of beautiful property in Saint-Émilion, launched: Big French Bottle. family company 1987 was changed slightly. the acquisition of Château Haut-Brion now known as Château Quintus. Domaine Clarence Dillon. Implementation of a large-scale A raised seal was engraved on the by Clarence Dillon. 2018 replanting policy at La Mission neck, the label was redesigned and 2013 Domaine Clarence Dillon joins the 1979 Haut-Brion vineyard. To date, over 7 the capsule once again bore the 2010 Château Quintus acquired the prestigious association Primum Following the death of her husband, hectares have already been renewed fuchsia colour it had in the early 20th 2009 was an exceptional vintage neighbouring property, Château Familiae Vini (PFV).
Prince Charles of Luxembourg, or planted, nearly 35% of the current century. for Domaine Clarence Dillon wines. L’Arrosée and these two exceptional
Joan Dillon married the Duke of total surface area. Robert Parker, who once said, “If I estates were united to produce one Mouchy. Her second husband then 2005 was alone on a desert island, I would of the very best Saint-Émilion wines. helped her manage the family 1991 Launch of Clarendelle, Inspired by take a bottle of Château Haut-Brion company. First vintage of Haut-Brion by Domaine Clarence with me,” gave four potential 100s, the 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion’s Dillon, the first premium Bordeaux highest distinctions, to Opening of a new Parisian head office 1983 second wine: La Chapelle wine brand. Château Haut-Brion and Château for Domaine Clarence Dillon. Acquisition of Château La Mission de La Mission Haut-Brion. La Mission Haut-Brion in 2010, This superb 19th century townhouse
Haut-Brion by the Dillon family. for both red and white (98-100 for is also home to a fine wine boutique –
Château Haut-Brion and Château La Cave du Château – a gastronomic
La Mission Haut-Brion red and 96-100 restaurant – Le Clarence – private
for Château Haut-Brion and Château salons and a bar for the restaurant’s
La Mission Haut-Brion white). guests.
134 history Head Office Domaine Clarence Dillon 31, avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt 75008 Paris + 33 1 40 73 85 85 www.domaineclarencedillon.com
Château Haut-Brion Château Quintus Le Clarence 135 avenue Jean Jaurès N°1 Larosé 31 avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt 33600 Pessac 33330 Saint-Émilion 75008 Paris + 33 5 56 00 29 30 + 33 5 57 24 69 44 + 33 1 82 82 10 10 www.haut-brion.com www.chateau-quintus.com www.le-clarence.paris
Château La Mission Haut-Brion Clarence Dillon Wines - Clarendelle La Cave du Château 67, rue Peybouquey 3, Rue Avison 31 avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt 33400 Talence 33400 Talence 75008 Paris + 33 5 56 00 29 30 + 33 5 56 01 00 10 + 33 1 82 82 33 33 www.mission-haut-brion.com www.clarendelle.com www.lacaveduchateau.com
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Sabrina Ubinana Marketing & Communication Manager +33 1 40 73 87 23 [email protected]
Manon Fays Communications Officer & Community Manager +33 1 40 73 87 24 [email protected]