Just finished a wonderful update week in Bordeaux with many highlights including a special vertical tasting of 15 vintages of Chateau Haut-Bailly Cru Classe De Graves (www.chateau-haut-bailly.com). Since the purchase in 1998 by Elizabeth and Robert Wilmers their investment shows “the wines have gained precision and balance revealing the identity of this Estate’s complex terroir”. As charming and dedicated President Veronique Sanders puts it “illustrate the evolution of the unique style of its wines marrying structure and suppleness, classicism and elegance”.
The Grand Vin contains 20% of very old vines (some up to 130 years old) growing right beside the Chateau.
1998: “Merlots blessed by the gods” 59% cabernet sauvignon & 41% merlot
1999: “Harmony” 65CS, 25M, 10% cabernet franc. A wine virtually “custom-built”
2000: “Legendary” 61CS, 33M, 6CF – a real fav of this blogger
2001: “Elegance” 65CS, 35 M – “long-term vintage which should show character, vivacity, and lustre”
2002: “A very pleasant surprise” 62CS, 35M, 3CF – “Built to last”
2003: “Atypical weather conditions” 56CS, 38M, 6CF – “very ripe tannins but surprising freshness”
2004: “A rare perfection” 50CS, 45M, 5CF -“impressive tannic structure”
2005: “Legendary” 58CS, 36M, 6CF – another beauty just needing time – “power, freshness, balance & elegance”
2006: “Classicism” 65CS, 35M – “This vintage will undoubtedly be well-balanced, silky, and elegant”
2007: “Regularity” 70CS, 26M, 4CF – “a structured texture”
2008: “Purity” 70CS, 30M – “low yields & great vivacity – both striking and soft!”
2009: “A truly great vintage” 60CS, 37M, 3CF – “powerful cabernets but incredibly creamy”
2010: “A double triumph” 62CS, 36M, 2CF – “concentrated monster with higher phenolics than 2009”
2011: “Stamped with the seal of its terroir” 50CS, 47M, 3CF – ” soft fresh fruits of real precision ”
2012: “Virtuoso” 60CS, 40M – “fruity, fresh and dense has tight tannins”
What is your favourite vintage of Haut-Bailly or some other wines from Pessac-Leognan?
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