Château Haut Bailly, Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan, 2010
The trio of Domaine de Chevalier, Haut Bailly and Smith Haut Lafitte have become the unofficial super seconds of Pessac Leognon. The quality at these estates now rival the established order and are some of the most thrilling wines to be found on either bank of the Gironde. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. The stunning 2010 is the result of very 'careful and precise vinification'. This is very gently extracted; the team here used a cool fermentation (26°C), no delestage and yields of 37 hl/ha to produce one of the most stylish and precise Haut Baillys we can remember. There is a beautifully perfumed bouquet with notes of cool black cherries, mulberries and hints of coal dust. On the palate, this is effortless; packed with dense currant fruit, cassis and tell tale grave minerality, the texture is sumptuous, precise, intense and finishes with fine almost velvety tannins and bright lifted fruit. Exquisite!
critic reviews
The 2010 Haut-Bailly was served at dinner following the Giscours vertical. This has a powerful and almost primal bouquet with copious scents of black cherries, crushed stones and violets—the latter perhaps more prominent than previous bottles. The palate is, again, perhaps due to impeccable provenance, backward and obviously a decade away from its peak. But what a peak that will be, promising intense black fruit notes laced with tobacco and sous-bois. Quite audacious on the finish, the 2010 is a gem.
Coiled and reserved at first, smoky cigar box as it opens, vivid and beautifully sleek blackcurrant, bilberry and blueberry fruits, taut and structured tannins even at 14 years old, with pencil lead and olive paste studding the palate from beginning to end. Plenty of estate signature in its finessed spirit, coupled with the concentration and swagger of the 2010 vintage. Harvest September 22 to October 14. Denis Dubourdieu consultant, Gabriel Vialard winemaker. 60% new oak for ageing.