Such totally graceful perfumes to this, showing currants, dried flowers and stones, as well as hints of forest fruit and subtle tar, asphalt and smoke. Full-bodied, yet the texture is pristine with intense, polished and fine-grained tannins. So long, flavorful and ever so beautiful. The finish is never ending. This really is something special. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

Composed of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 23rd of September to 11th of October. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vivacious notes of blackcurrant cordial, black raspberries and plum preserves with a tantalizing undercurrent of candied violets, dark chocolate, menthol and licorice plus a touch of Chinese five spice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is achingly elegant, showing off perfumed black fruit layers with a firm frame of very fine-grained, silt-like tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with incredible persistence and fragrance. Just magic. LPB

Intense colour, with seductive black fruits on the attack. Quickly expands outwards in the mouth, so much depth with tiny pulses of electric flavour and grip. Feels very Haut-Bailly in its balance, energy and lift, with a clear savoury edge. Harvest September 23 to October 10, with a yield of 49hl/ha after a year that was 2°C above average through every month of the growing season except May. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
Tasted by Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 30 May 2020)
Part of Best Pessac & Graves 2019 wines tasted en primeur

A stunning wine in the making, the 2019 Château Haut-Bailly sports a deep purple hue as well lots of smoky black and blue fruits, unsmoked tobacco, cedar pencil, violets, and gravelly earth. Showing the quintessential elegance and purity of this terroir, it's medium to full-bodied, has no hard edges, and delivers wonderful purity of fruit and a great, great finish. It reminds me of a slightly more elegant 2009 and is a beautiful, singular wine from this estate, which is being run brilliantly by Veronique Sanders. It will benefit from just short-term cellaring yet drink well for 40+ years.

The 2019 Haut-Bailly, matured in 50% new oak and bottled in April 2021, has a stunning, classy and sophisticated bouquet of blackberry, melted tar, Earl Grey and light minerally scents. This is extremely focused, almost pixelated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, but there is real backbone and structure to this wine. Deep, intense, classy and classic in style, delivering an immense amount of sapidity on the enormously persistent finish. As I mentioned previously, this is a less flamboyant Haut-Bailly, but more intellectual.

Elegance and sophistication are front and center in the 2019 Haut-Bailly. A wine of finesse and understatement, the 2019 reveals itself slowly in the glass. Graphite, crushed rocks, lavender, blackberry and lavender are some of the nuances that develop over time, but more than anything else, the 2019 is all about focus, persistence and simply exquisite overall balance. It is easily one of the highlights of the vintage.