Chateau Haut Beausejour St. Estephe, Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Haut Beausejour St. Estephe with wine tasting notes, wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other Bordeaux wine producers: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Haut Beausejour Overview and History

Chateau Haut Beausejour, located not far from Chateau Phelan Segur in Saint Estephe, was purchased by Jean Claude Rouzaud, the owner of the famed Roederer Champagne house. The Rouzaud family have extensive interests in Bordeaux as they also own Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac as well as 2 other estates in the Saint Estephe appellation, Chateau Bernadotte and Chateau de Pez.

While the majority of Bordeaux chateaux have long histories in the Medoc, that is not the case with Chateau Haut Beausejour. In fact, Chateau Haut Beausejour was created after the vineyards were obtained by the Rouzaud family in 1992 when they purchased two St. Estephe properties from the Brossard family, Chateau Picard and Chateau Beausejour.

The new owners created one large estate from both chateaux, thus, Chateau Haut Beausejour was born. A few years later, Chateau Haut Beausejour sold 17 hectares of what they considered to be their less desirable vineyard land to the negociant Mahler Besse. The property is one of the few estates without a chateau. Instead, here you find simple buildings used as a cellar.

Following the purchase and creation of the Left Bank estate, Chateau Haut Beausejour enjoyed significant improvements from its new owners in the vineyards and wine-making facilities. In an effort to produce the best wine possible, they declassified their entire first vintage, the 1992, due to a lack of quality in the grapes.

They use the same technical wine-making team and philosophy as their sister property in St. Estephe, Chateau de Pez. Some of the changes include manual sorting, green harvesting and most importantly, increasing the percentage of Merlot as well as the amount of new oak Haut Beausejour is aged in.

All of this has clearly boosted the quality of Haut Beausejour. All these improvements are easily seen when tasting the wines from vintages 2009 forward at Haut Beausejour.

Chateau Haut Beausejour Vineyard, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 10 hectare vineyard of Chateau Haut Beausejour is planted to 56% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Previously, the vineyard was more than 20 hectares in size, but parcels have been sold off. Also, you found up to 5% Malbec in the plantings, but those vines have since been removed. The terroir is gravel and clay with some limestone in the soil. They have old vines, some of which are close to 60 years of age.

The wine of Chateau Haut Beausejour is vinified in traditional, large, oak vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wine is aged in about 35% new, French oak barrels for about 12 months before bottling. On average, close to 5,000 cases of Chateau Haut Beausejour are produced every year.

The Best Vintages of Chateau Haut-Beausejour are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2005 and 2003.

When to Drink Chateau Haut Beausejour, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Haut Beausejour can be enjoyed early. However, the wine is often better with at least a few years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Chateau Haut Beausejour is usually best enjoyed in the first 10-15 years of life.

Young vintages can be decanted for 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving Chateau Haut Beausejour with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Haut Beausejour is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Haut Beausejour is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Haut Beausejour is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, pasta, and a wide variety of hard and soft cheeses.

Château Haut-Beauséjour Wine Tasting Notes

15 Vintages 42,764 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (Pomerol) 90 Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, sweet, dark red currants, tobacco leaves, and spice show in the nose, and on the palate, finishing with juicy, red berries, and chalky tannins on the backend. Drink from 2025-2038. 89-91 Pts. Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, sweet, dark red currants, tobacco leaves, and spice show in the nose, and on the palate, finishing with juicy, red berries, and chalky tannins on the backend. Drink from 2025-2038. 89-91 Pts. 1,502 Views   Tasted May 8, 2023  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2021 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 89 Dried flowers, cedar, spice and bright red fruits adorn the perfume. On the palate, the wine is crisp, peppery, bright and spicy with a lot of freshness in the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. Dried flowers, cedar, spice and bright red fruits adorn the perfume. On the palate, the wine is crisp, peppery, bright and spicy with a lot of freshness in the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 191 Views   Tasted Mar 9, 2024  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2020 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 90 Cigar box, tobacco leaf, red currants and floral aromas pack the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, round, soft and polished with a blackberry, cocoa, spice and savory centric, chewy finish. 89-91 Pts Cigar box, tobacco leaf, red currants and floral aromas pack the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, round, soft and polished with a blackberry, cocoa, spice and savory centric, chewy finish. 89-91 Pts 1,369 Views   Tasted May 20, 2021  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2019 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 89 Medium-bodied, forward, soft and ready to deliver its herbal, cedar, spicy red berry, olive and thyme charms. 88-90 Pts Medium-bodied, forward, soft and ready to deliver its herbal, cedar, spicy red berry, olive and thyme charms. 88-90 Pts 2,759 Views   Tasted Jun 8, 2020  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2018 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 90 Cherries, tobacco, espresso and sweet red fruits from start to finish are found here. Soft, silky, medium-bodied, fresh and charming, this is ready to go. Cherries, tobacco, espresso and sweet red fruits from start to finish are found here. Soft, silky, medium-bodied, fresh and charming, this is ready to go. 1,065 Views   Tasted Mar 9, 2021  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2017 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 88 Medium-bodied, hot and sweet, this wine is forward with a distinct olive, thyme and red berry character in the finish. Medium-bodied, hot and sweet, this wine is forward with a distinct olive, thyme and red berry character in the finish. 3,286 Views   Tasted Apr 26, 2018  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2016 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 89 Medium-bodied, round, forward, fruity, and easy to like for all of its ripe, dark cherries and fresh, sweet currants. No need to decant, just pop, pour and enjoy. Drink from 2022-2030. Medium-bodied, round, forward, fruity, and easy to like for all of its ripe, dark cherries and fresh, sweet currants. No need to decant, just pop, pour and enjoy. Drink from 2022-2030. 2,289 Views   Tasted Aug 23, 2022  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to Medium bodied with dark red fruits, spice and herbs on the nose, this wine offers forward, sweet, juicy cherries, round fruits and softness in the texture. This opened-styled wine should be just about ready on release. Medium bodied with dark red fruits, spice and herbs on the nose, this wine offers forward, sweet, juicy cherries, round fruits and softness in the texture. This opened-styled wine should be just about ready on release. 1,654 Views   Tasted Apr 29, 2017

2015 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 88 Dried flowers, cigar box, tobacco leaf, spice, and underbrush add to all the bright, fresh, spicy red berries in the nose and on the medium-bodied, crisp palate. Drink from 2022-2032. Dried flowers, cigar box, tobacco leaf, spice, and underbrush add to all the bright, fresh, spicy red berries in the nose and on the medium-bodied, crisp palate. Drink from 2022-2032. 2,350 Views   Tasted Jul 8, 2022  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to A medium-bodied, crisp, earth-centered wine with a bright, red berry character that is ready for early consumption 85 - 87 Pts A medium-bodied, crisp, earth-centered wine with a bright, red berry character that is ready for early consumption 85 - 87 Pts 2,296 Views   Tasted Apr 19, 2016

2014 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 87 Medium-bodied, this is a soft, black raspberry centered wine with a bold, red berry character. 86-88 Pts Medium-bodied, this is a soft, black raspberry centered wine with a bold, red berry character. 86-88 Pts 2,405 Views   Tasted Apr 13, 2015  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2012 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 85 Medium bodied, forward, with bright, red fruits, tobacco and dusty tannins, this will be best in its youth. Medium bodied, forward, with bright, red fruits, tobacco and dusty tannins, this will be best in its youth. 3,031 Views   Tasted May 4, 2016  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to Light red berries with an austere finish. 85-88 Pts Light red berries with an austere finish. 85-88 Pts 3,317 Views   Tasted Apr 23, 2013

2010 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 88 2010 Haut Beausejour With 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this well-priced St. Estephe wine combines smoke, espresso bean, red and black fruit and hints of spice for a wine with freshness, backbone and a fair price. A top value Bordeaux wine pick from St. Estephe. 88-90 Pts 2010 Haut Beausejour With 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this well-priced St. Estephe wine combines smoke, espresso bean, red and black fruit and hints of spice for a wine with freshness, backbone and a fair price. A top value Bordeaux wine pick from St. Estephe. 88-90 Pts 5,818 Views   Tasted Apr 19, 2011  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2009 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 89 Beausejour is another value play from the vintage. From a terroir located close to Phelan Segur, this is a supple style of wine and should drink well early. Beausejour is another value play from the vintage. From a terroir located close to Phelan Segur, this is a supple style of wine and should drink well early. 2,483 Views   Tasted Jun 26, 2010  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2008 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 85 Mature, developed, pleasant, spicy, earthy, red berry oriented wine that\'s easy to drink. If you have a bottle or two, it is time to drink up. Mature, developed, pleasant, spicy, earthy, red berry oriented wine that\'s easy to drink. If you have a bottle or two, it is time to drink up. 1,619 Views   Tasted Feb 10, 2019  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2005 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 83 Surprisingly light, with a bright, red fruit, earth and spice character. This is already fully mature and requires drinking sooner than later, as there is not much going on now, and I suspect there will be less going on here in the future. Subsequent vintages from 2009 forward have been much better wines that are also more age-worthy. Surprisingly light, with a bright, red fruit, earth and spice character. This is already fully mature and requires drinking sooner than later, as there is not much going on now, and I suspect there will be less going on here in the future. Subsequent vintages from 2009 forward have been much better wines that are also more age-worthy. 3,205 Views   Tasted Oct 8, 2016  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to

2003 Château Haut-Beauséjour  (St. Estèphe) 84 Medium bodied, earthy, light in fruit, but with nice, tobacco, tinged, red fruit aromatics, the wine is just past full maturity and needs to be consumed sooner than later. Medium bodied, earthy, light in fruit, but with nice, tobacco, tinged, red fruit aromatics, the wine is just past full maturity and needs to be consumed sooner than later. 2,125 Views   Tasted Dec 10, 2017  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to