2018 Chateau Haut Bailly - Grand Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan

Decanter.com – 98 pts – GH: *First vintage under Chris Wilmers, succeeding his father Bob. A brilliant Haut-Bailly, living up to its En Primeur promise, packed with ripe rippling black and red berry fruit and a wonderful velvety texture. Still extremely young, more closed than it was during En Primeur but packed with layers of brilliance, saline quality on the finish, with a tight slate grip slowing everything down. 5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend, co-fermented with Petit Verdot. A yield of 21hl/ha.* - 07/2020

Falstaff Magazin – 97 pts - PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Reife dunkle Beerenfrucht, zart nach Feigen und kandierten Orangenzesten, zart nach Velours und Nougat, facettenreich und einladend. Saftig, extraktsüß und elegant, feine Kirschfrucht, seidige, gut integrierte Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, schon sehr gut entwickelt, finessenreich im Nachhall, sicheres Reifepotenzial. (2020–2060)* - 02/2021

*The 2018 Haut-Bailly is blended of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Grapes were harvested September 17 to October 9, and the wine has 14.4% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it opens slowly with profound notions of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis, roasted nuts and black olives, unfurling to reveal notions of menthol, crushed rocks, molten licorice and chargrilled meat plus a hint of lilacs. Full-bodied, rich and densely laden with layer upon layer of vibrant black fruits and mineral nuances, it has a solid backbone of firm, velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long with compelling restraint and exciting energy.* (96-98+/100)

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20pts: *Noch verschlossen, aber sehr vielversprechend. Schwarze Kirschen und Brombeeren, dazu Minze und mineralische Noten. Auch am Gaumen ungemein präzise, dicht gewoben, mit viel Spannkraft.* - 10/2021

WeinWisser – 19+/20pts - WL: *Purpur mit satter Mitte und zartem rubinrotem Rand. Was für ein feingliedriges Parfüm mit roten Pflaumen, edler Cassiswürze und zartem Veilchenduft, dahinter Brasiltabak, Bleistiftmine und helles Edelholz. Am sublimen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle und kakaoartigem engem Tanningerüst – alles hier ist am richtigen Platz! Im konzentrierten nicht enden wollenden Finale ein Feuerwerk von Wildkirsche, Schlehensaft und tiefschürfender dunkler Mineralik, endet mit königlicher Adstringenz. Hat den 1. Platz in Léognan erfolgreich verteidigt! Kaufen!* – 04/2021

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Headily exotic on the nose – really quite captivating. Rich – so rich it’s almost drinkable without food. Freshness is not its USP but its drama is. The worry was that this particular bottle was possibly oxidising.* - 01/2022

JamesSuckling.com – 97-98pts - JS: *Incredible depth of fruit to this with a center palate that shows superb character and texture. I love the hazelnut and coffee-bean undertones to the beautiful fruit, which shows great finesse. Full-bodied yet compact and tight, giving a sense of agility and flight to the wine. Extremely tight and polished tannins.*

Vinous.com – 97 pts – AG: *The 2018 Haut-Bailly soars out of the glass, showing magnificent poise that only grows with time. Sweet, perfumed aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure add to its considerable allure. Ripe red berry fruit, spice, blood orange, licorice, cedar, tobacco and menthol are all woven together in an effortless, classy Haut-Bailly that delivers the goods. I suppose the 2018 doesn't quite have the explosive energy of the very best years, but it more than makes up for that with its sensual, seductive personality.* - 03/2021

*This wine initially seems easy and just packed with fruit. As you delve behind the black fruits, the tannins come into play. The considerable structure shows concentration with a dense side that has power and a lighter side that has fresh fruit. The wine should age impressively.* (95-97/100)

Vinous.com – 95 pts – NM: *After one bottle broke in transit, Véronique Sanders dispatched a replacement toute de suite. The 2018 Haut-Bailly retains its almost sumptuous bouquet of black cherries, boysenberry and huge bunches of freshly picked violets. The medium-bodied palate presents layers of black fruit laced with white pepper and iodine. This Haut-Bailly is very supple, the tannins very fine, and during its barrel aging, it has gained decidedly more grip on the finish. Whereas on day one it exhibits hedonism, returning on day two, it coheres marvelously and attains far more complexity and sense of grandeur on the finish. A sophisticated Haut-Bailly that should not be underestimated.* - 03/2021