Château Haut-Bailly 2021

Deep, cool, with a fantastic bouquet of iris and violet over cassis and blackberry. On the palate it is straight, fresh, clear and pure like a mountain stream, superbly structured, with crisp fruit and finely woven tannins; pure precision, long, red-fruited, with a delicate spiciness on the finish. Once again, an excellent Haut-Bailly.

The winemaker calls this wine chic, and it is, with enticing aromas of blackcurrants, chocolate, walnuts, nutmeg, bark and forest floor. Some graphite and dark mushrooms. Medium-bodied with very integrated tannins that melt into the wine, with super length and finesse at the end. It’s the subtle texture and pure and complex fruit character that impress. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 10% petit verdot and 3% cabernet franc. Drinkable now, but this will age beautifully.

The 2021 Haut-Bailly harked back to the older style when I tasted it out of barrel during en primeur. Now bottled since the end of March, it has developed a very composed and harmonious bouquet with blackberry, briar, cedar and melted tar scents that gradually gain intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, again quite saline with hints of black olive and Japanese nori tincturing the black fruit. It segues into a classically styled finish, with a welcome touch of black pepper on the aftertaste. Give this three or four years in bottle, and it should drink well for 20+ years.

Dark garnet in color, the wine is equally dark aromatically with nuances of smoky black cherries, blackberries, cocoa, cigar box, flowers and black plums. On the palate, the wine focuses on chewy black cherries, chalk, spicy black raspberries, cocoa and spice. Texturally, it offers an exotic, sensuous, elegant quality that I really like. It sets Haut Bailly apart from all the other wines I tasted. The wine is likely to remain a bit reticent in character, so give it a few years in the cellar and some time in a decanter as well. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, representing the highest percentage of Petit Verdot in the estate’s history. 2021 is the first vintage produced in their new, state-of-the-art cellars. Drink from 2026–2055.

Deep dark ruby core, with purple reflections at the narrow rim. Black cherries and cassis, fine savouriness, nougat and a little candied orange zest. Juicy, ripe cherries, a touch of plum, silky-ripe tannins, salty touch, good freshness, lingers nicely; a multi-faceted food companion, very pure in style; certain ageing potential. Very chic.

The 2021 Château Haut-Bailly is a beautiful, elegant wine that’s very much in the estate’s style, with its charming, supple, seamless profile. Red and black currants, smoky tobacco, spice, and subtle floral nuances all define this utterly classic, seamless Haut-Bailly. From minuscule yields of 19 hectoliters per hectare, it will drink well for at least 20 years.

The excellent Haut-Bailly 2021 confirmed its rating after bottling in three tastings with the same score! Dark, rich nose with plenty of fruit and outstanding depth layering. On the palate, it shows a broad, expansive structure, endlessly long and nuanced. A great Haut-Bailly with tremendous breed and balance. Its very high concentration only fully emerges in the long finish; before that, it comes across as of medium fullness. This grand finale radiates endlessly and intensely down the throat. Wow, what a great Pessac-Léognan with a discreet 13.0% alc./vol.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 37 hl/ha, 13% vol. alcohol, production 40,000 bottles) Dense, deep, elegant, fresh, complex dark bouquet with plum, subtle cassis, light tobacco, delicate licorice, gentle dried fruit. A tightly woven, elegant, multi-layered palate with finely creamy fruit, dense, velvety structure, varied, powerful, fresh aromatics, plenty of very fine tannins, and a very long, powerful finish with abundant lingering aromas.

(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 37 hl/ha, 13% alc./vol., production 40,000 bottles) Dense, deep, elegant, fresh, complex dark bouquet, plums, fine cassis, light tobacco, subtle licorice, delicate dried fruits. Tightly woven, elegant, multi-layered palate with finely creamy fruit, dense, velvety structure, varied, powerful, fresh aromatics, plenty of very fine tannin, very long, powerful finish with many lingering flavors. 19/20 2029 - 2055

Excellent job in a challenging vintage. There is an elegance, subtlety and finesse that shows the confidence in the winemaker team at this estate, leaning into the cool blue fruits and gunsmoke flint of the vintage. Plenty in common with the 2007 - translating a slimmer, less exuberant year into an elegant, deft and delicious wine. Harvest September 27 to October 12, Axel Marchal and Valerie Lavigne consultants, Gabriel Vialard winemaker.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Haut-Bailly is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It pops from the glass with punchy scents of kirsch, redcurrant jelly, and fresh blueberries, giving way to touches of pencil shavings, cardamom, and violets. The medium-bodied palate is restrained and elegant, featuring fine-grained tannins and well-knit freshness to support the vibrant red and blue fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed. Pretty!

An appealing, open bouquet of fresh, crunchy red fruits, hay, and wildflowers. Sumptuous on the palate, airy and fluid, it has a caressing, cashmere-like texture. A delight.

Haut-Bailly reveals itself with the subtlety for which it is known. Step by step, yet with intent, and a keen sense of detail. With good density, the wine has very fine tannins that deliver power without excess, without a hitch. On the contrary, they are silky and create a symbiosis with the acid structure, which is well highlighted in 2021. Balance is therefore ensured, which bodes well for ageing over time. As the minutes pass, the fruit expression gains in breadth and length on the palate. The wine takes its place with confidence, with precision, and showcases its many strengths.

Dark, purple color. Intense, refined, fruity, pure and subtle nose. The palate shows meticulous texture and a melting, supple body—present, delicate and airy. The wine unfolds with great softness, leading to a beautiful sappy, fragrant finish. Blend: 65% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 10% petit verdot, 3% cabernet franc. Alcohol: 13% - pH: 3.87. Yield: 19 hl/ha. Selection: 50% grand vin. Harvest from September 27 to October 11.

Seductive blackcurrant and juniper with purple floral touches on the nose. Smooth texture with high acidity giving sharp strawberry fruit balanced by both savoury and mineral notes – slate, crushed stone, smoke, violets and dark chocolate – very much in the style of the vintage with no harshness or overt opulence, instead offering a pure sense of classicism, restraint and refinement. Elegant and well structured with a long, determined finish – this will continue to deliver pleasure for a long time. 10% press wine. No chaptalisation. 30% grand vin. pH 3.9. 3% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. Yield 19 hl/ha. First year in the new cellar.

95–97. Barrel Sample. This is a very aromatic, precise wine. Ripe fruits and density are balanced by the wine's freshness and acidity. It has structure that brings out creamy tannins to balance the succulent black fruit flavors.