Haut Bailly - Pessac-Léognan 2015

Jeb DUNNUCK

98

byJeb Dunnuckthe10/19/2023

Reminding me of the 2009, the 2015 Château Haut-Bailly has a riper, sunny, sexy style that nevertheless stays nicely grounded and elegant, with ample classic Haut-Bailly character. Sweet crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, loads of spicy, loamy earth, and cedar pencil, full-bodied richness, ripe, velvety tannins, and flawless balance all characterize this incredible wine. It actually already offers pleasure today given its texture, balance, and purity, but it’s going to evolve for 30+ years.

Vinous

95

byNeal Martinthe7/10/2019

The 2015 Haut-Bailly has a very attractive bouquet with red currant, strawberry, crushed stone and subtle graphite aromas, becoming more floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well judged acidity, a little "correct" in style. Precise and detailed on the classic, pencil lead finish. This is one Pessac-Léognan that I scored conservatively, only for it to improve dramatically after 5 or 10 minutes. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Wine Advocate

95

byNeal Martinthe3/2/2018

The 2015 Haut-Bailly has an intense bouquet with raspberry preserve, blackberry and briary scents intertwined with cedar and hints of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and superb acidity (more tensile than I remember it in barrel). I adore the focus and the class of this wine, the manner in which it gently fans out toward the finish. Classy and sophisticated, this is an outstanding Haut-Bailly. To repeat my sentiment from barrel, this 2015 is up there with the 2009 and 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2021 - 2045. 

Vinous

97

byAntonio Gallonithe2/27/2018

Once again, I am absolutely stunned by how vivid the 2015 Haut-Bailly is. Bright, red-toned fruit and floral overtones convey freshness. Deep and unctuous in the glass, with tremendous concentration, the 2015 has more than enough clout to age well for several decades. It will need at least a few years in bottle to be truly enjoyable.

Wine Advocate

97

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe2/22/2018

Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Bailly offers up a tantalizingly savory nose of smoked meats, chargrill, tapenade, unsmoked cigars and black truffles with a core of black currants, black cherries and wild blueberries plus wafts of iron ore and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and yet wonderfully plush with a powerful core of fruit—this vintage is truly an iron fist in a velvet glove. The finish goes on and on with persistent earthy/minerally notes and savory/sweet fruit. Although it is tempting and indeed delicious right now, the wine still possesses many restrained layers and should handsomely reward the patient.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe2/15/2018

Fresh and pure, with cassis and cherry preserve notes streaming through, guided gently by singed vanilla, tobacco and dried star anise details. Roasted apple wood accents drape the finish for now, but the fruit should soak that up easily with cellaring. Shows some sneaky depth here, only obscured by the freshness. Better to wait this one out. Best from 2020 through 2040. 6,665 cases made.  –JM

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe2/12/2018

This is an incredible young red with precision and focus that is second to almost none. Full body with a ultra-fine tannin drive that is seamless as it is endless. It ends with such power. Try in 2024 but already impressive to taste.

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJulia Harding MWthe11/8/2017

Mid crimson. Delicately leafy dark fruit, immediate impression of elegance and purity. Scented on the palate too. Harmonious and refined, with everything in place for a long life and already finely balanced between the restrained dark fruit, the super-fine tannins and a long fresh finish.

Decanter.com

97

byJane Ansonthe5/2/2016

The Graves wine of the vintage (along with Haut-Brion’s red). A structural, sensual, expansive wine. Dense but deft, 3.75pH, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and for the first time this year a new plot of 4% Petit Verdot (young vines but already powerful and spicy). Incredible persistency. Picking dates were 15 September for the first Merlot grapes and 8 October for the last Cabernets, allowing for a truly relaxed pace. Represents 55% of total crop. Double the usual rain in August after four months of serious deficit, then back to half of normal rainfall for both September and October (44mm instead of 90mm) – which is why director Véronique Sanders said for the first time ‘August rains saved the vintage’. This has the potential to be upscored when in bottle.2025-2042

Vinous

95-97

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

The 2015 Haut-Bailly is remarkably vivid for such a big wine. Firm beams of tannin give the 2015 much of its shape and overall energy, both of which the 2015 needs to balance its superb concentration. Sweet floral and spice notes give lift to the unctuous red cherry jam, pomegranate and blueberry flavors. The 2015 is likely to need quite a bit of time to come together, but it is already a very special wine. Even with all of its obvious depth, the 2015 retains gorgeous freshness. In 2015, the blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the first time Petit Verdot has appeared in the blend.

Jancis Robinson

18

byJancis Robinsonthe4/26/2016

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. Very dark, luscious colour - one of the most distinctive colours of all! Savoury and not forced but awfully attractive. Round and fresh. Very nicely assembled. Definitely Graves. Long and very 'cashmere'! Real lift yet intensely ripe fruit too. Very neat! 13.6% Drink 2025-2045

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

byJeff Levethe4/23/2016

With an excellent depth of color, this wine displays smoke, blackberries, boysenberry, cigar box, spice, caramel and forest floor. Full-bodied with deep flavor, freshness and length. The tannins are refined, but noticeable. This will take time to develop, soften and come around, but based on previous vintages, given time, this should do exactly that. The finish is all about the sweet, ripe, pure, dark, red and black fruits, cocoa and cherry liqueur you find easily in the endnotes. From a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot , this wine reached 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. The Grand Vin was produced from 50% of the harvest, which took place from September 15 to October 8. 96 - 98 Pts

timatkin.com

96

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Jamessuckling.com

98-99

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

This is a vivid and powerful red with lots of bright fruit and spice character. Full body, chewy tannins and loads of fruit on the finish. Firm and focused tannins. Lots of energy and vibrance. Spice and violet leaf undertone. Pure fruit. Pure structure.

Wine Advocate

95-97

byNeal Martinthe4/1/2016

The 2015 Haut Bailly is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot (Véronique Sanders told me that the latter was planted three years ago.) My sample included 80% new oak, but there will be 50% in the final blend. Deep in color, the bouquet is very intense with multilayered blackberry, blueberry, crème de cassis and subtle black olive aromas, introverted at first but soon racing out of the blocks with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, quite firm tannin. This is an Haut-Bailly with real backbone, real sense of purpose. It could have tipped over into being overpowering due to that intense Merlot, but the acidity keeps everything in check and the finish demonstrates wonderful tension. In particular, the aftertaste is incredibly long in the mouth. This Haut Bailly is up there with the 2009 and 2010 - a bravura Pessac-Léognan destined for long-term ageing. Do yourself (and the wine) a favor and cellar it for 12 years, drinking the 2012 or 2013 before reaching for this. Drink 2027-2065