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2012 Chateau Haut-Bailly Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan

Colour: Red
Vintage: 2012
Region: Bordeaux
% Alcohol: 13.00

An estate that is at once both truly historic and very forward-thinking, under the ownership of the American Wilmers family and stewardship of Veronique Sanders, Haut Bailly has been producing wines of incredible quality for the past 10-15 years – although of course their history goes back way, way further than this. In fact the estate has some of the oldest vines, and one of the largest proportions of old vines, of any estate in the region. These old vines are all-important as the deep, complex root structures allows the vines to search out the rainwater left deep in the soils by winter and Spring rains, keeping the vines hydrated and fully operational even during hot dry summers.

96 RP
96 AG
93-94 JS
2012 Chateau Haut-Bailly Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan

Out of stock

Tasting Notes and Scores

96 RP

The classic 2012 Haut-Bailly is staggeringly great wine, with a stunning bouquet of lead pencil shavings, blueberries, black raspberries and blackcurrants and perhaps a touch of spring flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with an almost seamless integration of wood, alcohol and tannin. It is rich, concentrated, stunningly supple, pure and a total hedonistic and intellectual turn-on. This wine defines what is meant by intensity of flavor, but it is light on its feet, à la great cuisine. It should be drinkable reasonably young, but age effortlessly for 25-30 years.

Wine Advocate

96 AG

The 2012 Haut Bailly is quite fragrant and inviting. Dark raspberries, mint, crushed flowers, spices and rose petals all lift from the glass in this feminine, gracious Haut-Bailly that offers considerable near and medium-term appeal. All the elements fall into place in an effortless, stunningly beautiful wine endowed with personality and class. One of the wines of the vintage, the Haut Bailly will drink well for two decades-plus. This is a superb showing from proprietor Bob Wilmers and his team headed by Véronique Sanders. The decision to lower temperatures in fermentation and go for a soft, gentle extraction, along with strict selection has paid off big time.

Antonio Galloni

93-94 JS

A beautiful red with plums and chocolate and hints of licorice. Full body, with super polished tannins. Ripe fruit with forest undergrowth, dark fruits and sweet tobacco. Goes on for minutes.

James Suckling

93 JA-I

Evident cocoa bean, dusted almonds, generous blackberry fruits, creamy griotte cherry, gourmet edged, with fresh acidities that ensure balance. Enjoyable, good quality with creamy fruit that builds through the palate. This is ready to drink but will continue to deliver over the next decade or more. Harvest 27 September to 15 October, Denis Dubourdieu consultant, Gabriel Vialard winemaker.

Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

2024-07-11

91-93 NM

The Grand Vin is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, picked between September 27th and October 15th. The nose is comparatively reserved, broody black fruit, wild strawberry and hint of cedar. It is nicely focused, less precocious than recent vintages. The palate is soft and very smooth on the entry. Velvety soft tannins, although it needs just a little more lift on the mid-palate. It is quite linear towards the finish, quite caressing in the mouth with just a little new oak to be absorbed. There is nice grip and persistency here – a classic Haut-Bailly. Tasted April 2013.

Neal Martin

91 IDA

Deep purple-ruby. Clean, fresh, very deep aromas of cassis, blackberry, minerals and smoke. Rich, dense and suave, offering intense flavors of dark cherry and blackcurrant lifted by graphite and ink. Finishes very long and pure. Estate manager Veronique Sanders plans to age this very promising Haut-Bailly for about 18 months in 50% new oak. For my money, this is one of the top 20 wines of the vintage.

Ian D'Agata

Vinous

2013-05-01

90-93 WS

Very pure, with dusty cherry, plum and cassis fruit flavors, featuring a suave finish threaded with warm stone and licorice notes. Shows solid length for the vintage. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

Wine Spectator

90-92 MS

[60CS/40M] Dense, ripe, minerally nose; rich, ripe, tannic, balance; a sweet ripe cabernet dominated flavour, complex and aromatic within the fine but firmly tannic frame, ample and generous, long, gravelly and with excellent length. A fine, complete, fairly long term (especially within the vintage) Haut Bailly. 2024 35+
[M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Michael Schuster

89-91 BI

As per the character of many Graves from 2012, this is a solid, chunky effort with lovely ripe fruit. Feels a little foursquare and unapproachable at the moment but will certainly reward patience as it has all the minerality, alcohol, tannin and acidity to age nicely.

Bordeaux Index

16.5 JR

Dark with a purple rim. Lifted, appetising nose. Racy and flattering even if without enormous concentration. Flattering mouthfeel. No rusticity here! Though perhaps a little alcohol on the dry, slightly angular finish. A menthol note. Drink 2020-2032

Jancis Robinson

16 RH

Plenty of black fruit and a firm, dense, powerful structure. Much more true to the appellation than their Pomerol or Margaux. Has a leafy bitterness that is just offset by the savoury dark fruit. (RH)

Richard Hemming MW

Jancis Robinson

2015-09-02

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