Chateau Haut-Bailly Pessac Leognan Grand Cru Classe 2018

Critical Acclaim: 99 pts James Suckling; 98 pts Jeb Dunnuck; 98 pts Decanter; 98 pts Robert Parker; 97 pts Wine Enthusiast. 

About the Winery: Château Haut-Bailly is not only one of Bordeaux’s most prestigious wine estates but also one of the most loved. The Wilmers family, owners of Haut-Bailly since 1998, support the chateau’s constant ‘sense-driven’ progression with heart and soul. The late ‘Bob’ Wilmers, previously chairman of M&T bank, New York, was renowned for his humanistic practices built on a profound belief in people.  In a continuation of this philosophy, Haut-Bailly’s new winery embodies their desire to reaffirm the context in which the human aspect of winemaking sits, bringing winemaker and wine lover closer than ever before. For if goodness is what makes up the ‘essence’ of Haut-Bailly, the more it is shared, the stronger it becomes.

Tasting notes: "Complex and expressive nose, offering red and dark fruit, spices and pepper with wood and mushroom undertones. Fresh mussel shell and a hint of ink, too. Full-bodied with a fine texture and great balance between the acidity and the controlled, tannic structure. Very long finish. Goes on and on. Tiny production, 21 hectoliters per hectare. Try after 2025."- James Suckling

"The 2018 Haut-Bailly is blended of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has 14.4% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to unlock a powerhouse of black fruit preserves, offering notes of blackberry pie, crème de cassis and black cherry compote, giving way to nuances of Chinese five spice, camphor, chocolate box and licorice with a touch of crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with plush textured, rich black fruits, supported by a lively backbone and finishing long and spicy. It is decadently tempting to drink now, but give it 5 years in bottle to begin to see its full glory, while it should continue to transform for a further 20 years or more in cellar. Drink window 2026-2046."- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. 

"The Grand Vin 2018 Château Haut-Bailly checks in as 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It spent 18 months in 60% new French oak. This is a beautiful, classic expression of this terroir, and its dense purple hue is followed by gorgeous black cherry and cassis fruits interwoven with ample tobacco leaf, cedary herbs, earth, truffle, and floral nuances. While 2018 was a hot, dry year (at the end of the season anyway), this shows a mix of cooler-climate, vibrant aromatics paired with a rich, concentrated, fresh style on the palate. It has plenty of tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. A beautiful, elegant 2018, it's going to need 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades."-Jeb Dunnuck.

"This is a serious 2018, structured, layered and full of Haut-Bailly signature. The texture is striking, with the silkiness emphasized by a pH of 3.87 and a relatively high alcohol that is effortlessly integrated into the body of the wine. The complexity builds slowly through the palate but the persisting feeling is of menthol, a lifting off and peeling back of the intensity, revealing the fresher more nuanced notes underneath. There's a lot of the 2015 character here, in terms of its enjoyable structure and generous fruit, but it's more like 2016 in its serious finish, and there's no question that this will age well. The IPT is 86, more than the 84 measured in the 2010, but you don't feel it in the same way here. 5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend, co-fermented with Petit Verdot because they like the balance that it gives. 21hl/ha yield. Drinking window 2027-2042."- Decanter.

Varietal: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc.