Chateau Haut-Bailly Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 2011

Wow. The nose is wonderfully aromatic, with currants, blackberries, and lilacs. The body is full but refined and beautiful. The quality of the tannins is exceptional—so fine. The finish has lovely austerity and tension.

The saturated ruby/purple-hued 2011 Haut-Bailly exhibits a glorious, subtle, noble set of aromatics consisting of red and black currants, sweet cherries, graphite, truffles and a faint hint of wood spice. The wine hits the palate with the profound elegance and purity that have become so much a characteristic under Wilmers and Sanders. Still youthful, with good acidity and freshness, this brilliant, medium-bodied 2011 needs another 4-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve effortlessly for 20-25 years.

Drink 2018 - 2043

The harvest lasted from September 9 to 29.

As with the 2007, this 2011 is bursting with pleasure right now. Carefully controlled and elegant while still being juicy, allowing the tannins to tiptoe across the palate in that way Haut-Bailly does so well. Fine tannins, well-expressed cassis and blackberry fruits, with a curl of pencil lead and cool ash on the finish. The Spring of 2011 was the hottest and driest in 50 years, with only 78mm of rain falling between March and June, balanced out by a cool and rather wet July and August, and then a warm September allowing good ripening window but keeping this rather elegant savoury fruit frame.

Drink 2021 - 2040

The 2011 Château Haut-Bailly has tough shoes to fill following the 2009 and 2010, yet it's clearly an outstanding wine. More medium-bodied, focused, and firm, yet with a complex, layered style, it shows the tannins on the vintage, but the overall balance here is spot on, and it has beautiful purity of fruit. It's not one to hide away in the cellar, but it will unquestionably evolve gracefully over the coming decade.

Drink 2023 - 2033

Tasted at the Haut-Bailly vertical at the château.

The 2011 Haut-Bailly has a much more conservative bouquet than the previous two vintages: pretty black, earthy fruit mingling with cedar and tobacco, though it does not possess enormous vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, balsamic infused black fruit. it is grippy towards the finish but missing the amplitude of a truly great Haut-Bailly. This has its ankles tied together by the growing season.

Drink 2021 - 2032

There are graphite and stone scents. The palate has black rather than red fruits, dense tannins, and plenty of smoky complexity.

Drink 2016 - 2028