Chateau Haut-Bailly Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 2014

The 2014 Haut-Bailly has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and expressive, the 2014 exudes depth and finesse. Ample and resonant on the palate, with striking depth, the 2014 possesses exceptional balance and class. Hints of smoke, tobacco and licorice infuse the deep, creamy finish.

Drink 2020 - 2039

A very well-made, modern wine with ripe cherry and cassis notes but rather discrete oak. The bright fruit and lively acidity balance the moderately dry tannins very well, and the finish is long and quite complex. Compacted. Needs time to open. Beautiful.

Oozes pure elegance, this is strikingly concentrated and yet precise, with a beautifully silky texture to the tannins, cool blueberry and cassis fruits, with peony and violet aromatics, along with curls of woodsmoke. Last tasted around three years ago, and it is starting to soften and open, excellent quality. This was not included at the Bordeaux Index tasting, so I Coravined a bottle that I have at home.

Drink 2024 - 2044

A wine that has always drunk well, the 2014 Château Haut-Bailly has a charming, forward, yet incredibly elegant profile and terrific freshness in its ripe, darker berry fruit. It shows complex floral, spicy, and lead pencil nuances with time in the glass, and it's a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated Haut-Bailly with nothing out of place, fine, polished tannins, and a great finish. This Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy blend 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot) will continue drinking spectacularly well over the coming 20-25 years.

Drink 2023 - 2048

A wonderful expression of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, which is 60% of the blend. The nose is oaky, but delicate. Suave and velvety, with very ripe tannins and impeccable concentration. Intense but not flashy; shows excellent structure, balance and length.

Drink 2019 - 2040

The 2014 Haut-Bailly is very composed on the nose. It's pretty tertiary, but there is sufficient fruit to back that up, and it feels much more natural than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-balanced, and unapologetically classic in style, but unlike many of its peers, there is no austerity or dryness. This is a polished 2014 that should mature well in bottle.

Drink 2024 - 2038