In 2015 the top wines of Pessac-Léognan are undoubtedly among the most successful and exciting of the vintage. Chateau Haut-Bailly is always a Goedhuis favourite, but this year they have absolutely nailed it and taken this wine to new heights. Our Buying Director, David Roberts MW, described it as “An outstanding wine of the vintage, and one of the best wines this skillful, intelligent team has ever made.”
This stunning château, situated on a rise overlooking its vineyards, is run by Bordeaux’s most dynamic and charming female wine director, Véronique Sanders, and her brilliant wine making team is led by Gabriel Vialard.
They have made an absolutely beautiful 2015, balancing sumptuous fruit with freshness, tension and drive. Decanter magazine rates it (with Haut-Brion) as the Graves wine of the vintage,with the potential to be upscored from 97 points in bottle, and the other scores and notes speak for themselves.
Ch Haut Bailly Grand Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan 2015
£720 per 12 bottles IB
£730 per 6 magnums (150cl) IB
An outstanding wine of the vintage, and one of the best wines this skilful, intelligent team has ever made. This vivacious wine is driven by black damson fruit and smoky cedar wood, which tumbles from the glass. Exquisitely fine, chalky tannins are perfectly pitched. Nothing overblown here, it is restrained yet expressive, giving the impression of effortless, noble class. Drink 2023-2038. Goedhuis, Score: 95-97
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. Neal Martin, Score: 95-97
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. This has the potential to be upscored when in bottle. Decanter, Score: 97
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. Antonio Galloni, Score: 95-97
