Château Haut Bailly, Rouge, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2015

Overview of the Wine
The Haut-Bailly lineage is a long history of men and women who, for nearly four centuries, have seen themselves as the heirs of a shared adventure, the “keepers” of a sacred mission, dedicated to an ancestral terroir that commands respect. The torch has been passed down through the generations with a savoir-faire, a set of values and a way of being, that everyone has honoured.

From the beginning of the 17th century to the present day, from Firmin Le Bailly to the Wilmers family, via Alcide Bellot des Minières and three generations of Sanders – Daniel, Jean and today Véronique, a succession of committed, attentive and visionary professionals have dedicated themselves to serving the terroir.

Winemaker
Veronique Sanders

Grape / Blend
60% Cabernet Sauvignon - 36% Merlot - 4% Petit Verdot

Origin
Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The identity of its terroir gives Haut-Bailly a unique style, the result of a subtle harmony between finesse and concentration, suppleness and structure, soft tannins and aromatic richness: the purity of elegance. The expression of the aromas delivers all the complexity and intensity of black fruit that is the hallmark of a great wine. On the palate, the freshness persists and opens out into precision, volume, fullness and also a suppleness and balance that are found in the long, infinitely elegant finish. Its tannins mellow over time, making Haut-Bailly one of the most harmonious wines to age, and one of the most sought-after by connoisseurs. Mature vintages gain in complexity, further enhancing their reputation.

Haut-Bailly has a rare asset: the consistency of its wines. Vintage after vintage, a singular equation expresses the identity of this exceptional terroir.

The outstanding weather in 2015 resulted in fruity, deeply-coloured wines with great balance and excellent structure. Made from perfectly ripe fruit, they show harmony and a remarkable underlying softness.

98 points - Decanter
The aromatic complexity of this wine strikes you from the very first moment - this has got to be one of the greatest Haut Baillys I have ever tasted. The 2015 has a touch of Petit Verdot for the first time (not including the mixed fruit from the century-old grapevines that Haut Bailly always uses), from three year old vines. This has a balance and grip that lifts from underneath the fruit, with incredibly precise tannins. Slate, pencil lead and curls of tobacco lead the persistent waves of flavour coming at you, expressing a lightness than deceives you until you feel the layers begin to deftly build up over the course of the tasting. This is utterly delicious, showing all the complexity that you expect from a great wine, together with the supreme confidence that they don't need to trick you with a push of oak (they use 50% new barrels). (JA)

98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
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. 98+

98 Points - James Suckling
This is an incredible young red with precision and focus that is second to almost none. Full body with a ultra-fine tannin drive that is seamless as it is endless. It ends with such power. Try in 2024 but already impressive to taste.

97 Points - Wine Advocate
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. (LPB) 97+

97 Points - Vinous
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. (AG)

97 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Barrel Sample. 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. (RV)

95 Points - Wine Spectator
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. (JM)

Product size: 750ml