Haut Bailly II - Pessac-Léognan 2020

Wine Advocate

89.00

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

The 2020 Haut-Bailly II opens in the glass with aromas of plums, minty cassis, sweet soil tones and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit framed by powdery tannins, it's a nicely balanced effort that will reward a bit of patience.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

The 2020 Haut-Bailly II, which was harvested all in September, offers everything you’d want from a second wine and has up-front red and black fruits, some tobacco, floral, spicy, sandalwood nuances, medium-bodied richness, and a layered, silky mouthfeel. It has plenty of the class and elegance found in the Grand Vin, yet in a more approachable, undeniably delicious package. It’s perfect for drinking over the coming decade.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Smoke, tobacco leaf, cigar wrapper, spearmint, flowers and red berry aromas make the nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant, fresh and silky, with a polish to the tannins and ample, sweet, red fruits with a hint of spice and dark chocolate that remains in the endnote. Already showing fabulous today, it is only going to get better. Drink from 2023-2040.

Vinous

93.00

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Haut-Bailly II is super elegant and refined, with tons of aromatic nuance and character. Succulent dark cherry, rose petal, dried herbs and menthol lend energy to this super-classy Pessac-Léognan. The energy, precision and nuance here are superb. Perhaps more importantly, Haut-Bailly II does not come across as a wine from a warm year at all.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Haut-Bailly II bides its time in the glass, that flourishes with blackberry, shucked oyster shells, pressed iris flower and a touch of graphite. This is classy. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, gentle grip, fine tannins, smooth and cohesive with a generous sprinkling of black pepper towards the finish. This leaves the tongue tingling long after the wine has departed - a serious Deuxième Vin.

Vinous

92-94

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Haut-Bailly II is superb. The tannins and overall structure are suggestive of an important Pessac-Léognan that is going to need time to come around. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender and menthol are front and center. A wine of savory energy and intensity, Haut-Bailly II sizzles with energy.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

The second wine of Château Haut-Bailly and 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Haut-Bailly II sports a healthy purple color as well as classic Pessac-Léognan notes of damp earth, cedary herbs, tobacco, and assorted red and black fruits. With good density, medium to full-bodied richness, and a ripe, expansive texture, this is unquestionably an outstanding second wine that I would be happy to drink any time over the coming 15+ years.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Haut-Bailly II was picked September 9–25. It offers a mélange of red and black fruit on the nose, hints of morels/undergrowth lending complexity, then becoming more floral with aeration, all quite mercurial in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit that gently grips. Very marine in style, shucked oyster shells infusing the sappy finish, which leaves an impressively long aftertaste considering this is the Deuxième Vin. Excellent.

Decanter.com

92

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Inky colour, pencil lead and smoke concentration, where the tannins lend a sense of pressure bearing down on the fruit, keeping things moving and building in tension through the palate. Tiny edge of peony and iris flower as it opens in the glass. Harvest September 9 to 25th. Extremely well extracted, this is not a delicate wine but it is a measured one, and it has the sense of slowly building towards the close of play that is most enjoyable. 30% of overall production in HBII this year. Not vinified in the cellar, but will be aged in it.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

The wine opens with sweet plums, smoked spices, currants, tobacco leaf and cherries on the nose. Medium-bodied, finesse in style, with an elegant soft, fresh mid-palate and refined finish, the wine ends with energetic red plums and savory currants. The wine blends 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91-93

Wine Advocate

87-89

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

Composed of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 54% Merlot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly II was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with easy-breezy notes of cassis, fresh black plums and raspberry leaves, plus hints of wild thyme, tilled soil and ground cloves. The medium-bodied palate is soft and juicy with just enough black fruit and savory flavors and a refreshing finish.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe5/12/2021

Lots of blackcurrant with crushed stone, licorice, iodine and graphite. Blue fruit, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins that are refined and polished. Seamless. Excellent second wine.

Anthocyanes

92-94

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Le bouquet est dense et profond avec de très belles notes de fruits noirs, de fleurs (rose et pivoine) et d'épices. Le toucher de bouche est dans la tension et l'épure, les tanins sont structurants dans une construction très "cabernet" sur l'allonge et la concentration. De la puissance et de l'énergie en finale. Une belle bouteille en devenir.

Falstaff

91-93

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Edelholzwürze, tabakig, ein Hauch von Kirschen und Nougat, Anklänge von Vanille. Mittlere Komplexität, rotbeeriger Touch, salzige Mineralität, gute Frische, Kirschen im Nachhall, zitroniger Rückgeschmack.

My Bettane + Desseauve

92-93

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021