Château Haut Bailly, Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan, 2018

This felt like a bit of a divergence from the house style that we know and love. Perhaps it was the enormous concentration of fruit as yields dropped to a paltry 21 Hl/Ha. This is certainly a vin de garde, but it didn't possess that ethereal quality we expect from Haut Bailly and it doesn't seem quite as complete as some of its contemporaries. Initially quite flamboyant, cherry liqueur, crushed rocks and sweet plums. This is a big powerful, concentrated wine with good detail and taut fruit and a long tannic pull on the finish. There is lovely fragrance and vibrancy to the fruit. The tannins are perhaps a little too concentrated and could use a little more flesh on the bones to make this completely harmonious. It's not the most charming Haut Bailly we have tasted, but this could all come together during élevage. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc.