Château Haut Bailly, Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan,

Griottle cherry, deeply fruited, blackberry and raspberry, edges of pomegranate, tobacco leaf, rosemary, cigar box and cedar, with a core of spiced sage and rosemary. The first modern vintage to have Petit Verdot in any great quantity (there has always been a handful from the library plot of century-old vines but in quantities that are too small to be recorded as part of the blend). Harvest September 15 to October 8. Denis Dubourdieu consultant, Gabriel Vialard winemaker.

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.