Chateau Haut-Bailly - Pessac Leognan 2015 (Pre-arrival)

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Chateau Haut-Bailly Description

For over four centuries, Château Haut-Bailly has overlooked a 30 hectare vineyard in a single block entirely devoted to producing red wine. Haut-Bailly’s reputation as one of the great wines of Bordeaux dates from the 19th century, and the word “outstanding” most often associated with the château reflects its superb quality.

In July 1998 Chateau Haut-Bailly was purchased by American Robert G. Wilmers and is today managed by Véronique Sanders, fourth generation, to serve as general manager, overseeing a far-reaching investment programme to modernise the vineyards, cellars, offices, and chateau itself. Following the sad passing of Bob in December 2017, the management team is committed to continuing Bob’s work in the same spirit and energy as in the past twenty years. With the 2021 vintage, Chateau Haut-Bailly debuted a contemporary, custom-built winery. The building allows them to carry out precision work in optimal conditions. Thr future looks bright at Chateau Haut-Bailly.

James Suckling: 98 Points

Decanter: 98 Points

Jeb Dunnuck: 98 Points

"The 2015 Haut Bailly checks in as a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot that comes from the gravelly soils of the Graves region, just southeast of Bordeaux. It's an incredibly beautiful, classy 2015 that offers a sexy bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf, and exotic spices. Deep, full-bodied, and voluptuously textured, with ultra-fine tannin and building richness that never takes away from its incredible elegance and purity, it's another heavenly 2015 that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and just sing for 2-3 decades. Hats off to winemaker Véronique Sanders - this might end up rivaling the out of this world 2009."-Jeb Dunnuck

Wine Advocate: 97 Points

Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Bailly offers up a tantalizingly savory nose of smoked meats, chargrill, tapenade, unsmoked cigars and black truffles with a core of black currants, black cherries and wild blueberries plus wafts of iron ore and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and yet wonderfully plush with a powerful core of fruit—this vintage is truly an iron fist in a velvet glove. The finish goes on and on with persistent earthy/minerally notes and savory/sweet fruit. Although it is tempting and indeed delicious right now, the wine still possesses many restrained layers and should handsomely reward the patient.

Wine Enthusiast: 95-97 Points

This wine is finely balanced with its ripe, dusty tannins contrasted by bold blackberry fruits. This is an impressive wine that has great structure, showing the quality of the Cabernet in the vintage.

Vinous: 97 Points

Once again, I am absolutely stunned by how vivid the 2015 Haut-Bailly is. Bright, red-toned fruit and floral overtones convey freshness. Deep and unctuous in the glass, with tremendous concentration, the 2015 has more than enough clout to age well for several decades. It will need at least a few years in bottle to be truly enjoyable.

Wine Spectator: 95 Points

Fresh and pure, with cassis and cherry preserve notes streaming through, guided gently by singed vanilla, tobacco and dried star anise details. Roasted apple wood accents drape the finish for now, but the fruit should soak that up easily with cellaring. Shows some sneaky depth here, only obscured by the freshness. Better to wait this one out. Best from 2020 through 2040. 6,665 cases made.