2008 Domaine Allary Haut-Brion

Domaine Allary Haut-Brion was a 3.3-acre estate in Pessac that bordered Chateau Haut-Brion. For most of the 20th century it was owned by the Allary family and produced about 400 cases of a Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon. From 1954 to 1978 the wine was called La Passion Haut-Brion. But due to complicated legal events involving their neighbor Chateau Haut-Brion, the family had to change the name of the wine. Starting with the 2008 vintage it was called Domaine Allary Haut-Brion. In 2012 the Allary family sold their estate to Domaine Clarence Dillon, owner of Chateau Haut-Brion. The final vintage of Domaine Allary Haut-Brion was the 2011.

Pessac-Léognan was created in 1987 from the northern part of the left bank Graves appellation. Before then it was simply part of Graves, or sometimes it was called Haut-Graves. Unlike many other Bordeaux appellations, Pessac-Léognan is known for both red and dry white wines, although its reds are more famous. The appellation includes ten communes and the area’s most important châteaux, including Château Haut-Brion, the only non-Médoc estate included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. There are 2,964 acres of vineyards in Pessac-Léognan and 16 classified growth estates. The main red grapes grown are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, along with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. White grapes grown are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with a little Muscadelle. Pessac-Léognan is considered to have the best terroir of the greater Graves region.