Castle Haut-Bailly - Pessac-Léognan 2013

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe10/28/2016

The 2013 Haut Bailly is a cut above many Pessac-Léognan wines this year. It is bestowed an engaging, red cherry, strawberry and iodine-scented bouquet that unfolds in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite bold tannin for the vintage, but here there is the fruit to back it up and there is real density on the ferrous finish. "Team Sanders" has made a considered, harmonious and very agreeable wine for the vintage, even if it might pale against other recent releases. Just 2,000 cases this vintage. Last tasted at the property in March 2016 and you know, it might well garner a higher evaluation with bottle age.

La Revue du Vin de France

17 / 20

byPhilippe Maurangethe9/1/2016

Puissant, avec une tannicité marquée en bouche, ce vin de grande structure est un modèle de réussite pour 2013. Il se distingue par sa race, sa tenue, sa corpulence supérieure et une allonge tramée.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/29/2014

There are only 2,500 cases of the 2013 Haut-Bailly because yields were a microscopic 20 hectoliters per hectare. Made from a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, this elegant effort boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a beautiful, intriguing bouquet of spring flowers, creme de cassis, plums and an underlying Graves earthiness. Layered with more texture and concentration than many of its peers, it will benefit from several years of cellaring, and should last an atypically long time of 20 years.

The harvest occurred at this beautiful estate in the heart of Pessac-Leognan between October 1-10. Production was tiny, and Veronique Sanders, the brilliant winemaker, was worried about pushing for too much extraction, so vinification was intelligently done in a gentle manner in order to extract the softest tannins possible.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

87-89 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/16/2014

Dark purple ruby. Violet and blueberry jelly complicate aromatic herbs on the simple nose. On the palate, very fresh red and black fruit flavors show nice vibrancy but limited complexity and depth. The gentle extraction makes this seem balanced and easy to drink; should it develop more sweet, fruity flesh it will prove to be a successful Haut Bailly.

matthewjukes.com

17 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/23/2014

Very oaky nose and quite sleek black fruit and seemingly balanced. Good power and length. Impressive, but it will only work if the oak calms down.

Jancis Robinson

14,5 / 20

byRichard Hemmingsthe4/22/2014

Cedar, tobacco, light black fruit and incredibly high tannins that totally overwhelm the rest of the structure. They aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and leave the wine quite unapproachable. It might resolve with significant bottle age – but will the relatively light concentration have equivalent staying power?

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/18/2014

Grilled herbs, smoke, plums, savory herbs and graphite emerge from the glass in the 2013 Haut-Bailly. Wonderfully deep and resonant for the year, the 2013 possesses lovely balance and plenty of personality. A final burst of new leather, violets red plums and smoke lingers on the close. In 2013 Haut Bailly speaks to finesse above all else. It's as simple as that. In 2013, the blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Decanter.com

17 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/15/2014

Dense purple-red, cassis nose with hints of wild roses, good vineyard fruit, tannins a bit raw still.

My Bettane + Desseauve

16,5 / 20

the4/15/2014

Nez discret, mais pur, corps parfaitement équilibré, texture serrée, peu d’ouverture aromatique, pas encore complètement en place à ce stade comme souvent dans cette superbe propriété. Il se dégustera certainement plus aisément dans trois mois.

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/15/2014

The 2013 Château Haut Bailly is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc picked 1 to 10 October, cropped at 20.6hl/ha. The grand vin represents 40% of the crop and it saw 55% new oak (though Véronique Sanders told me that it may undergo a shorter élevage). It comes in at 12.8% alcohol. It has a clean pleasant bouquet, defined but perhaps missing the usual flair and exuberance, which is typical of the vintage. The palate is structured with a firm grip, a slight saltiness in the background. There is tightly packed black fruit here and it builds nicely to a masculine, tobacco-tinged finish. I will happily drink this over the next ten years whilst I await the 2009 and 2010 to come round.

Jamessuckling.com

91-92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/8/2014

A firm, juicy wine with dried-berry, sweet-tobacco and cedar character. Medium to full body with fine tannins and a pretty finish. Iodine. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. Tiny production.

Wine Spectator

89-92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2014

Almost succulent, with dark plum and red currant fruit married to the singed apple wood and blackberry paste notes. Features a pleasant, anise-lined finish that shows good grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

René Gabriel

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/3/2014

Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubiner Rand. Blumiges von Cabernet geprägtes, delikates Bouquet, wenig Druck, dafür vielschichtig und fein, im zweiten Ansatz helle Edelhölzer zeigend. Im Gaumen zeigt sich die elegant gewählte Vinifikations-Variante, süsslich ausstrahlende Tannine, frische Pflaumen, heller Tabak, fein mürbe Tannine, aber die passen zu dem etwa 15 Jahre anhaltenden Potential.

Wine Enthusiast

92-94 / 100

byRoger Vossthe3/31/2014

This is a powerful wine that is full both of juicy black fruits and firm tannins. The structure is driving the richness of the wine, giving it the potential to age.