Château Haut Bailly, Rouge, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2012

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, 40% Merlot

Origin
Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The harvest started when the phonological maturity (tannins) caught up with the technical maturity (sugar, acidity). The Merlots were picked in ideal conditions. The weekend of October 7th was particularly hot and wet, causing us to quicken the pace and pick the Cabernets before the return of the rain. The Merlots were pleasant and full of charm. The Old Vines delivered splendid Cabernets, typical of the great terroir of Haut-Bailly.

Fruity, fresh and dense, the 2012 vintage has tight tannins and expresses the virtuosity of Haut-Bailly.

94 Points - Wine Advocate
The 2012 Haut Bailly is a brilliant wine for the vintage. It has a very intense bouquet with scents of blackberry, bilberry, cedar and a touch of pencil lead. This is very well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, certainly one of the most structured Pessac-Léognan wines that I have encountered, yet it is struck through with wonderful balance and focus. It tightens up a little on the finish, a 2012 built for long-term drinking pleasure, and as such, I would afford it five or six more years in bottle if wishing to experience this in full flight. Tasted March 2017.

94 Points - James Suckling
This red shows intense blackberries, raspberries and strawberries on the nose, following through to a full body with refined yet firm tannins, fresh acidity and a delicate finish. The purity of fruit and finesse and texture of the tannins are all fantastic. Drink in 2019.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Very firm and closed up, this wine is a tough proposition at the moment. It has the weight to develop well along with richness. Acidity, sweet fruits and concentrated tannins will all come through strongly as the wine matures. Drink from 2020.

93 Points - Wine Independent
Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Haut-Bailly delivers plum preserves, warm cassis, and spice cake scents with touches of licorice and clove oil. Light to medium-bodied, with rounded tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the juicy black fruits, it finishes with an herbal lift.

91 Points - Falstaff
Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle watery edge. On the nose, sweet tobacco, black fruits of the forest, a touch of orange zest and background savoury herbal notes. Medium complexity, notes of cassis, subtle fruit expression, good freshness and a mineral edge on the finish. Somewhat light-bodied, but offers an uncomplicated drinking pleasure today.

91 Points - Vinous
The 2012 Haut-Bailly has a well-defined bouquet, blackberry and tobacco at first, red fruit emerging with time. The oak is neatly folded in here. The palate is ripe and fleshy on the entry, powerful and quite dense, although it lacks the complexity of the de Fieuzal towards the finish and just misses a bit of vigour, unlike the bottle that formed part of my vertical at the property. Tasted twice ar Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Product size: 750ml