2018 Chateau Haut-Bailly II Pessac-Leognan

"The 2018 Haut-Bailly Il is a bomb. All of the richness of the year comes through in a wine that is bursting at the seams with fruit. Dark red cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint, and licorice race out of the glass. Ripeness is decidedly pushed, and yet the 2018 remains poised and impeccably balanced. Silky tannins wrap around the plush, sensual finish." ~ Vinous Media.

Chateau Haut-Bailly is a classified Grand Cru Classé de Graves located in the Pessac Léognan appellation, this Chateau it’s also known for producing one of the world’s most elegant wines.

Haut-Bailly dates back to 1461, where ancient archives prove that from as early as this year, these lands were already recognized as excellent for the cultivation of vines. However, it was until 1530 that the Chateau started to gain its well-deserved recognition. This was thanks to the Goyanèche and Daitze families, which were responsible of unify the best vineyard plots to produce the very first premium wine.

Today, this spectacular Chateau is the property of American M&T Bank’s CEO, Robert G. Wilmers. Robert describes this Chateau to be more than a financial investment, but a true passion. He and his team are completely committed to the continuous improvement of the Chateau. “In life and in wine, it is remarkable how far the application of good sense and science applied by good people can take you,” Robert says.

Gabriel Vialard has been Haut-Bailly’s winemaker for more than 20 years. He is a respected winemaker with a long trajectory in Bordeaux and has experience in different Chateaux like Smith Haut Lafitte and Chateau Cambon La Pelouse. Gabriel drives progressive change through experimentation while perpetuating the traditional values of the estate.

2018 Chateau Haut-Bailly II Pessac-Leognan is an outstanding second wine from this Chateau. This wine has been highly praised by some of the most important wine critics in the world. Vinous Media called it “a bomb” and Wine Enthusiast said that it “is a good reflection of the top wine.”

The character of this wine is a series of unlikely paradoxes. It is as complex as it is balanced: deliberate and discrete, powerful and gentle, immediate and timeless. The 2018 vintage in Bordeaux is one of the greatest seen this decade, Haut Bailly has reached new heights with this bottling.

Wine Spectator blessed this year with a 96-point review, stating that the wines have “terrific drive and definition.” And James Suckling had nothing but positive words to say about the 2018 vintage "it’s safe to say that 2018 is a top vintage. I am certainly going to buy and drink some in the future. And I am sure you will too. The plush fruit and ripe tannins make so many of the wines attractive to drink young but they have the structure to age for a long time."

Tasting Notes: 65% Merlot 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.