Live Auction: 1 October 2026 • 1:00 PM CEST • Paris
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otheby’s is honoured to present a momentous auction of wines sourced exclusively and directly from the legendary cellars of Château Haut-Brion. The sale, Château Haut-Brion, Domaine Clarence Dillon: Celebrating Our 10th Decade of Family Stewardship, marks ninety years since the Dillon family acquired the historic Bordeaux estate in 1935.
As the first auction dedicated entirely to the estate’s wines, this landmark auction offers collectors an unprecedented opportunity to acquire wines of impeccable provenance spanning nearly a century (1935 to 2025).
At the heart of the sale will be a series of six exceptional experiences created especially to celebrate this anniversary, each paired with rare vintages from Domaine Clarence Dillon, including an extraordinary barrel of Château Haut-Brion 2025 – the first ever barrel to feature in an ex-cellar First Growth auction.
As ex-cellar quantities of many historic vintages are now increasingly limited, the depth, quality and breadth of formats brought together for this auction make it a truly singular moment for collectors of Bordeaux and First Growth wines.
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The Legacy of Château Haut-Brion: Wines, Heritage & Exclusive Experiences
“Celebrating Our 10th Decade of Family Stewardship represents both a tribute to our history and an expression of our vision for the future.”
- Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman and CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon
Forward
Ten decades of Dillon family stewardship of Château Haut-Brion may seem a blip against the two-thousand-year viticultural history of the parcels that make up this estate. And yet, from the ownership records that have come down to us, those ten decades already position my family and Domaine Clarence Dillon as the second-longest dynasty to have cared for these vines across the six centuries for which any such records exist.
Across ninety-two vintages we have traversed the modern age. We have gone from oxen to self-driving tractors. We have weathered wars and pandemics. Throughout, my family and I have sought to keep this most ancient of Bordeaux estates on the pedestal of history it deserves: the father of the great Bordeaux estates, and the birthplace of New French Claret.
For the past eleven years I have devoted myself to a project designed to secure the next chapter of this monument of wine. Guided by our winemakers, we have equipped new facilities with the finest tools our age can offer. We have built in rammed earth — our own soils — to a carbon-neutral standard. Drawing on our library and antiquarian collections, we have woven a narrative that will shape the visitor experience when we open our doors in early 2027. This autumn, we shall also publish a book that opens a first window onto the collection itself: A Story of Gastronomy and Wine.
I began the library in 2010, when we were fortunate enough to acquire eight hundred volumes at a Sotheby's London auction aptly named Books for Cooks. From that seed, we have built one of the finest such collections in the world. What a privilege it is to hold a letter written by President Thomas Jefferson, or a papyrus documenting the sale of a vine in Coptic Egypt in the sixth century AD. What a privilege to leaf through Hannah Woolley, the first woman to publish a cookery book in English; Antonio Latini's Lo Scalco alla Moderna, the first Italian cookery book to record the tomato; or the first signed copies by the man reputed to have coined the word chef and given us the chef's hat — Antonin Carême.
To mark this passage of time, we shall be sharing with lovers of Château Haut-Brion a selection of bottles of impeccable provenance drawn from our own cellars: ancient vintages, rare formats, and a small number of bespoke experiences you will discover in these pages. It is, in the truest sense, a treasure trove. I hope you will join us in the celebration, and I hope, too, that you will come and see us in the new cellars and in the fully renovated Château.
We are only ever as good as our previous vintages. Our exceptional terroir — historic and microclimatic — together with the facilities we have now built, will help to keep Château Haut-Brion at its eminence for centuries to come.
It is my wish that each of you will find here a time capsule of your own from this estate: a bottle that carries the viticultural history of two millennia, and that will now weave your own story into the long line of those who have loved this wine before you.
With warm regards,
Prince Robert de Luxembourg
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Domaine Clarence Dillon
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Sale Highlights
“This sale is the story of a family and one of France’s greatest wines, and a celebration of all that can be achieved with professionalism and inspiration. At the prow, since 1935, the Dillon family has steered this remarkable estate to glittering levels, while always looking to the future with innovation and creativity.”
Serena Sutcliffe, MW, Honorary Chairman
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he sale brings together both Château Haut-Brion Rouge and Château Haut-Brion Blanc, each with a distinct place in the estate’s history.
Château Haut-Brion Rouge
Vintages ranging from 1935 to 2010, including:
• 1,257 bottles
• 180 half-bottles
• 219 magnums
• 61 double magnums
• 2 jeroboams
• 8 imperials
• 3 salmanazars
The red wine of Haut-Brion is celebrated for its singular blending culture. Plot by plot, each vat is treated as distinct, with the final assemblage shaped by rigorous blind tasting. Unbound by fixed formulas, the dominant grape – whether Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc – fluctuates according to the vintage, ensuring that each year remains a distinct expression of the estate while preserving the elegance, precision and longevity of the Haut-Brion style.
“My overriding impression of this stunning First Growth is that it is the silkiest, most perfumed, most fine-grained of all the legendary top châteaux of Bordeaux. Haut Brion has an inner 'spirituality' to it, a haunting quality that lingers long on the senses…”
Serena Sutcliffe, MW on Haut-Brion Rouge
Château Haut-Brion Blanc
Vintages ranging from 1960 to 2022, including:
• 792 bottles
• 168 half-bottles
• 288 magnums
• 14 double magnums
• 2 imperials
If the red wine of Haut-Brion is renowned, Château Haut-Brion Blanc is one of the rarest dry white wines in the world. Produced in tiny quantities, often only 300 to 500 cases annually, it is prized for its singular combination of aromatic depth, structural brilliance and extraordinary ageing potential. With time, it develops layers of honeyed richness and complexity while retaining freshness and precision.
“The rarest of the rare, the utterly beautiful Haut Brion Blanc is the magical meeting between Sauvignon and Sémillon, vinified to their ultimate levels of quality…”
Serena Sutcliffe, MW on Haut-Brion Blanc
The sale includes important examples of the estate’s second wines and historic labels: Bahans Haut-Brion, later renamed Le Clarence de Haut-Brion in honour of Clarence Dillon; and the highly coveted second white wine of Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion: Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion, before finishing with La Clarté de Haut-Brion, its successor.
6 Exceptional Wines and Experiences
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t the heart of the sale will be a series of six exceptional experiences created especially to celebrate this anniversary, each paired with rare vintages from Domaine Clarence Dillon, including an extraordinary barrel of Château Haut-Brion 2025 – the first ever barrel to feature in an ex-cellar First Growth auction.
Lot 226
An exceptional collector’s journey between Paris and Bordeaux, conceived as an immersion into the cultural, gastronomic and vinous universe of Domaine Clarence Dillon. This unique experience brings together a VIP visit to the Grand Palais, a private masterclass in the Cave du Château and a gastronomic dinner, both located at Le Clarence, followed by exclusive access to Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion combined with a unique wine lot around the Linley 75th Anniversary Console and eight historic vintages from 1935 to 2009.
The Linley Console. Created to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Dillon family’s acquisition of Château Haut-Brion, the Linley 75th Anniversary Console is an exceptional collector’s object conceived at the meeting point of wine, design, craftsmanship and family legacy. Produced in a very limited edition, it was designed by David Linley, Second Earl of Snowdon, together with HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg. Crafted in rich mahogany, the console comes extensively equipped with a sumptuous, carefully curated selection of 8 historic vintages: 1935, 1949, 1959, 1961, 1975, 1989, 1990, and 2009. A Secret drawers conceal a beautiful wooden case containing two bespoke Château Haut-Brion-designed carafes and 12 finely engraved glasses and eventually a set of elegant silverware created and engraved by the Italian silversmith and jeweller Buccellati.
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A Patron of Heritage: Domaine Clarence Dillon and the Grand Palais. Guests will enjoy a private VIP visit to the Grand Palais, courtesy of Clarence Dillon, offering privileged access to its exhibitions. Continuing a long-standing tradition of philanthropy and commitment to the arts, Domaine Clarence Dillon supported the large-scale restoration of the Grand Palais, notably financing the renovation of the monument’s emblematic statuary along its façade.
Le Clarence. Just steps from the Grand Palais, Le Clarence is the flagship gastronomic restaurant of Domaine Clarence Dillon, embodying the group’s vision of French art de vivre at its most refined. Opened in 2015 within a magnificent 19th-century private mansion on Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, the restaurant was conceived by Prince Robert of Luxembourg to bring the elegance and spirit of the great Bordeaux estates—most notably Château Haut-Brion—into the heart of Paris.
A Private Masterclass in the Cave du Château. Located within the elegant Hôtel Dillon, directly opposite the Grand Palais and on the ground floor and cellar levels of Le Clarence, la Cave du Château is the wine boutique and oenological showcase of Domaine Clarence Dillon in Paris. Guests will take part in a private masterclass in the vaulted wine cellar. This intimate tasting will feature the latest vintages alongside rare and exceptional wines from France.
A Gastronomic Dinner. This Parisian chapter will culminate with a gastronomic dinner at Le Clarence, the Clarence Dillon family’s Parisian residence. Awarded two Michelin stars since 2017, Le Clarence has established itself as a leading address in Parisian haute gastronomy, combining an atmosphere of aristocratic intimacy with exceptional culinary creativity. The interiors—adorned with exceptionally rare artworks and antiques, meticulously selected by Prince Robert of Luxembourg—create the feeling of an elegant private residence rather than a formal restaurant, reinforcing a unique sense of exclusivity and warmth. In the kitchen, the cuisine—today under the direction of Chef Andrea Capasso—offers a modern and expressive interpretation of French gastronomy. This exceptional dinner offers an intimate expression of French elegance and the art of living, bringing together haute cuisine, refined hospitality and wines of remarkable pedigree in one of the most distinguished settings in Paris.
The second part of the experience unfolds in Bordeaux, at Château Haut-Brion.
Private access to Château Haut-Brion in Bordeaux. Guests will benefit from private behind-the-scenes access to the estate’s new cellars and gallery, hosted by a representative of the property. This rare immersion reveals the historical, cultural and patrimonial depth of Château Haut-Brion, while offering a privileged insight into the craftsmanship and precision that continue to define the estate.
The Great Vintage Collection tasting. The Bordeaux experience will culminate with a Great Vintage Collection tasting of Château Haut-Brion, guided by the cellar master. Through a selection of vintages rated 100/100 by The Wine Advocate, guests will explore some of the estate’s most iconic expressions and its extraordinary capacity to transcend time. This tasting is conceived as a true collector’s moment.
A private lunch around the Clarence Dillon estates. An exceptional private family-style lunch will be served at the Château, featuring terroir-driven dishes created by the chef. The wines will be thoughtfully paired from the three Clarence Dillon family estates: Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion and Château Quintus. This moment will bring together the different faces of the family’s Bordeaux heritage in a refined and intimate setting.
An intimate visit of Château La Mission Haut-Brion. The journey concludes with a private visit of Château La Mission Haut-Brion, one of Bordeaux’s most historic, discreet estates. This final chapter offers a rare and privileged encounter with a property whose depth, atmosphere and spiritual resonance make it one of the most compelling estates in Bordeaux.
Lot 227
An exceptional experience offering rare access to the very heart of the 2025 vintage at Château Haut-Brion, paired with the acquisition of one barrel of Château Haut-Brion Rouge 2025, the equivalent of 300 bottles of 750ml, bottled to order in formats of your choice, with a special, personalised back-label displaying your name or other chosen text.
“In 2026, the nose has the pure plumminess of Merlot, the cassis of Cabernet Sauvignon and the freshness of Cabernet Franc. Then come the enticing black cherries. Terrific Pessac-Leognan/cigary taste, its sense of place combined with a truly silky texture. This oozes fruit and class, just so distinguished and so heavenly. The drinking span of this magical wine will, thankfully, be decades long. A totally alluring, great 2025”.
Serena Sutcliffe, MW on Château Haut-Brion 2025
This unique journey includes private access to the new cellars, the discovery of the wine still in barrel with the cellar master, an exclusive lunch featuring the Clarence Dillon family estates, an intimate visit of Château La Mission Haut-Brion, a private dinner at the Pavillon Catelan, and an exceptional overnight stay at Château La Mission Haut-Brion tailored to the successful bidder.
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The Primum Familiae Vini 2025 case
Also on offer is a limited-edition Primum Familiae Vini 2025 case, featuring a bottle of Château Haut-Brion 2010 among the 12 bottles from some of the world’s finest wine producing families. The successful bidder will have the rare opportunity to visit all twelve wineries with a tailor-made programme, entry granted with a special passport, of which only two are issued every year.
ABOUT PRIMUM FAMILIAE VINI (PFV)
Founded in 1991, Primum Familae Vini (PFV), is an international association of some of the world’s finest wine producing families. Membership is by invitation only, with a maximum of 12 highly respected families contributing generations of expertise.
Currently, the world’s twelve Leading Families are: Marchesi Antinori (Tuscany), Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Bordeaux), Joseph Drouhin (Burgundy), Domaine Clarence Dillon (Bordeaux), Egon Müller Scharzhof (Mosel), Famille Hugel (Alsace), Pol Roger (Champagne), Famille Perrin (Rhône Valley), Symington Family Estates (Portugal), Tenuta San Guido (Tuscany), Familia Torres (Spain) and Vega Sicilia (Ribera del Duero).
The successful bidder for this lot, alongside the hand-crafted collection case containing 12 bottles (one each from a superlative vintage for every estate, engraved by hand with each family member’s signature), will have the rare opportunity to visit all the wineries listed above with a tailor-made program with visit and tasting along with a lunch or dinner hosted by a family member. This lot takes the form of a passport which grants entry to the 12 wineries. The passport holder can bring up to three guests (who must come at the same time as the passport holder). Only two Special Passports are issued every year.
The 12 experiences will take place at dates to be mutually agreed between the successful bidder and the respective wineries. Please note there is no time limit for booking these visits, so dates can be planned at leisure over the next few years.
THE PFV GENERATIONS CASE
Produced annually in only twelve numbered cases worldwide - Individually numbered from 1/12 to 12/12 - each case underlines its extreme rarity. The PFV Generations Case 2025 was designed as a tribute to Japan to honour Tsutsumi Urushi, PFV Prize winner 2025. Tsutsumi Urushi is a historic Japanese family house, founded in 1909, perpetuating the art of lacquerware through generations of exceptional craftsmanship and refined artistry.
Proceeds from the sale of the PFV Generations Cases support the PFV Prize.
