Château Haut Bailly, Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan, 2025
This is an impressive Haut Bailly, but alas, yields were a paltry 26 hl/ha. Gorgeous cool aromas of Morello cherry and sandalwood interspersed with fine minerals and briar fruit. This is very neat and refined with a delicate cherry and raspberry core, pure and handsome, supported by an elegant tannic framework. A wine for purists who seek finesse and mineral freshness.
critic reviews
The 2025 Haut-Bailly was picked between September 4 and 22 at 26.6 hl/ha, raised in 50% new oak. Similar to elsewhere this year, I found a distinct difference between the Grand and Deuxième Vins, this possessing greater delineation and complexity. A mixture of brambly red fruit, briar, a touch of cassis and orange rind that is beautifully delineated. The palate is exquisite: very fine tannins, tangible minéralité, very cohesive and focused, with a very complex, peppery finish that goes on and on and on. Svelte, harmonious and tender, this ranks amongst the best vintages from Haut-Bailly in recent years.
Super slow and steady expansion as it goes through the palate, this absolutely makes you smile and is right up at the top of my expectations for how Haut-Bailly would perform in this often-conflicting vintage. Beautiful, crushed rose petals, wet stones, iris flowers, squid ink, shows finesse but also generosity, a wine with so many dimensions and layers to experience. Sit back, give it a good 6 to 8 years in bottle, then get ready to celebrate. 55% in first wine, 50% new oak, 3.6ph. harvest September 4 to 22.
The 2025 Haut-Bailly is fabulous. Here, too, the purity of the fruit is remarkable. Dried herbs, crushed flowers, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and star anise give the 2025 a gorgeous and palpable sense of exoticism. The 2025 impresses with its elegance and finesse. Floral and savory overtones linger on the clean, supremely polished finish. Very fine.