Haut Bailly - Pessac-Léognan 2017

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe10/19/2023

I continue to believe that the top 2017s from Bordeaux are undervalued in the market: case in point, the 2017 Château Haut-Bailly. This is a gorgeous wine that I think is as good, if not better than the 2000. Stylistically, it's closer in style to the 2014 with its purity, balance, and elegance, yet it brings plenty of fruit and depth. Classic red and black fruit, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, and cedar pencil notes define the aromatics, and it's balanced and has a layered, seamless mouthfeel as well as a great finish. I would be thrilled with a case in the cellar, and it's going to drink well for three decades.

Decanter.com

95

byJane Ansonthe7/30/2020

Grilled caramel notes set against sappy black fruit show classic Haut-Bailly balance, with savoury cassis and bilberry shot through with liquorice root and finely-spun tannins that tiptoe across the palate. Less monolithic than the 2016 or 2018, clear that this is going to be ready to drink sooner. Harvest September 13 to 29. 4% Cabernet France completes the blend. The last vintage under Bob Wilmers.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2042

Vinous

95

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Haut-Bailly is racy and polished to the core, with no hard edges and just exceptional beauty. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, new leather, incense, and grilled herb overtones infuse the 2017 with striking layers of nuance, but it is the wine's feel that really elevates it into the realm of Pessac-Léognan's best. The 2017 is an elegant and exceptionally understated Haut-Bailly.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

A bold tarry note coils around the core of plum, black currant and blackberry fruit, while licorice root and bramble details check in on the finish. Packed and grippy, this is a touch rustic in profile at this early stage but should unwind easily enough with time, as all the pieces are in place. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038. 4,166 cases made. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

Blackberry, walnut, iodine, and sandalwood aromas follow through to a full body, round and juicy tannins and an intense, flavorful finish. This shows richness with structure. Excellent 2017. Try after 2023.

Le Point

16

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits noirs, vanille, mûre, bouche souple, ronde, tanins veloutés, bonne matière, serrée en finale, devrait bien évoluer.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The Grand Vin 2017 Château Haut Bailly is a beauty. This estate benefited from being one of the highest in the Pessac-Léognan region and escaped too much damage from the April frosts. As always, the wine has a more elegant, feminine style in its perfumed floral, cassis, and black raspberry aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, a tight, vibrant texture, ripe tannin, and a great finish, it’s one of the most ethereal, elegant wines in the vintage.

Vinifera

95

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Fumé, épicé, notes de ronce, de rose, aristocratique dans les parfums ; tanins sérieux, appuyés, vin nettement structuré pour l’année mais sans surextraction, serré, plus expressif sur l’allonge. Grand potentiel de garde prévisible.

WeinWisser

18

byTjark Witzgallthe5/28/2018

60% Cabernet Sauvi­gnon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc und 4% Petit Verdot. 28 hl/ha.  Granatrubin mit violettem Rand. Im Duft feiner Auftakt mit rotbeerigen Konturen, im zweiten Ansatz Brombeerstrauch, fleischige Noten und tabakige Wü rze. Am eleganten Gaumen mit feinspröder Textur, die Muskeln sind prä- sent und stützend. Reifes Tannin und wei- che Säure. Im Finale rote Johannisbeeren, entspricht dem Jahrgang, back to Classic. Ein beruhigender Haut- Bailly mit genialer Aromenausbildung! Die Lese wurde im Eil- tempo von drei Wochen eingeholt (13. bis 29. September).
18/20 2024 — 2045

Vinous

93-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Haut-Bailly is an understated beauty. Nothing in particular stands out rather it is the wine's balance that impresses most. All the classic Haut-Bailly signatures come through in a mid-weight, super-finessed wine that hits all the right notes. Dark red and blue stone fruits, graphite, smoke, licorice and incense are all laced into the super-expressive finish. The 2017 emerges from the estate's central, most historic parcels, as those vineyards were not affected by the April frost that took with it 30% of the production.

Vinum

18

byRolf Bichselthe5/15/2018

Die absolute Classe auch in diesem Jahr, vollmundig und sehr dicht, aber auch elegant und besonders raffiniert, mit klasse Tannin, von grosser Länge. Superb.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

A smoky bar around the time of the Third French Republic, alive with the scent of tar, tobacco, the essence of cassis and blackberry aperitifs and other herbal elixirs. Hints of flowers create the complex set of aromatics that bring us to this imaginary Café De La Paix, 1900. On the palate, the wine has polish, softness, energy and a lot of lift. Bright but not flashy, this is a classically styled vintage for the estate which will show well early, yet possess the ability to age as well. The wine was made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, reaching 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.74. The Grand Vin was produced from 50% of the harvest, which took place from September 13 to September 29. Unfortunately, Haut Bailly lost 30% of the crop due to the spring frost.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Haut-Bailly was cropped at 28hl/ha (40hl/ha on non-frozen parcels and 2hl/ha on frosted parcels) and includes co-fermented Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It is unlikely to contain any vin de presse this year, unlike in 2016, and it is matured in 50% new oak. There is a pH of 3.74 with 13.2° alcohol. It has an attractive and quite opulent bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, hints of crushed stone and briary, a light oyster shell influence. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin but there is good backbone here, quite “solid” for Haut-Bailly and it will need to just soften the edges during its élevage. With moderate length and a very attractive graphite aftertaste, this Haut-Bailly will require five or six years in bottle but will repay the patient wine-lover.

Wine Advocate

94-96

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

The 2017 Haut-Bailly is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it has a wonderfully spicy nose of cinnamon stick, cloves, anise and fenugreek with core of roses, warm blueberries, black forest cake and black raspberries plus hints of underbrush and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied with firm, ripe, grainy tannins, it has oodles of freshness and great finesse, continuing bright and energetic on the long, minerally finish.

Decanter.com

95

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

This reminds me of 2001 more than most wines I've tasted, and perhaps it's no surprise that a vintage that required a skilful touch and a belief in the power of elegance should do well at Haut-Bailly. It's hugely pure and restrained, with great aromatics and extremely well placed bilberry, cassis and mulberry fruits. The tannins are fine and poised, set against cigar box with touches of charcoal and slate. They build through the palate, but remain slightly austere on the finish, with a bounce to them that suggests they are going to age beautifully. They kept the vineyard team for three weeks in July, because the vines kept throwing out green shoots after the June rains. Harvested 13-29 September, the vines were around two weeks ahead all the way through the season. The yield was 28hl/ha overall, but only 2hl/ha on the frosted parts, compared to 40hl/ha for the unaffected areas, 50% of production going into the grand vin. Malo was finished by the end of November, but the vats are still separated and there will be final blend in May 2018 (which is what they always do). 4% of Cabernet Franc finishes the blend given below.

WeinWisser

18

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

La Revue du Vin de France

17,5-18

byPhilippe Maurangethe4/23/2018

Quelle race ! Le cru affiche une définition et une distinction en bouche qui en imposent. Un somptueux grain de tanins et la persistance des arômes donnent un vin plein d'éclat et intense.

Le Figaro

18,5

byBernard Burtschythe4/23/2018

La robe est violette avec un beau nez de cabernet, presque cèdre. Le vin est dense et frais avec de beaux tannins fins, il est assez strict, de belle longueur, très classieux. Il a un peu moins de chair que le 2016, mais il est plus droit, en attaque en particulier, plus frais aussi.

Bettane & Desseauve

17-17,5

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/18/2018

Généreux, complexe, racé, encore un peu fermé, gagnera dans les prochains mois en élargissant sa palette aromatique.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

94-96

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

Bold and dense, this wine is packed with tannins, ripe berry flavors and intense black fruit notes. Impressive, it is showing richness now and a fine future. Rich tannins and a firm dry core will allow the wine to age well.

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/11/2018

Very dark with purple rim. Oozes elegance on the nose, subtle dark fruit, nicely dusty/mineral and a touch of graphite and a slight and attractive herbaceous note. More fragrant with air. Texture is fine like layers of paper, tannins are dry and refined. Lightness of touch but really persistent. Juicy, gentle. Very lovely, the graphite elegance, freshness and fruit go on to the end.

matthewjukes.com

18,5

byMatthew Jukesthe4/9/2018

This is one of the calmest and most centred wines of 2017. There is no tension here, just precision and balletic balance. The fruit is focussed, deep and proud and the amalgam of the blend is amazing. There are two ages of Petit Verdot vines in the wine and they both add a different aspect to the wine. This spice is integral to this wine’s appeal. There is a voluptuousness and also elegance about this wine and it is not bigger than the second wine La Parde, it is just much longer and finer. This is a succulent, Burgundian-shaped wine in its demeanour and yet the tannins and the acidity are going to keep it going for years and years.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

A firm and silky red with a medium to full body, a solid center palate and a long and integrated finish. Very fine, polished and refined. Creamy tannins. Hints of bitter orange.