Château Haut-Bailly

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend

9.250 ratings
9.221 pro ratings
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France
Red Bordeaux Blend
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Wow! This comes right out of the gate fantastically. This is magical this early for 2010. 2010 is a great vintage but, built for elder years and children.

The nose reveals, slightly steeped, ripe & ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cooked pomegranates and cherries. Slight liqueur notes, toffee, caramel, mocha, melted chocolate, steeped fruit tea, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, dark spices, soft leather, light fresh tobacco, dry stones, graphite, expresso roast, dark, rich soils, with candied, fragrant, bright, dark, red, blue florals set in violets.

The body is round, elegant and ruby beautiful. The tannins are; dark, tarry, spicy, rounded and chewy. The structure, tension, length and balance live up to every bit of hype the 2010 was given. Slightly steeped, ripe & ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cooked pomegranates and cherries. Slight liqueur notes, toffee, caramel, mocha, melted chocolate, steeped fruit tea, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, deep dark spices with incredible palate heat, soft leather, light fresh tobacco, dry stones, graphite, expresso roast, dark, rich soils, with candied, fragrant, bright, dark, red, blue florals set in violets. The acidity is perfect. The seriously elegant finish is; ripe, slightly candied, brightly floral, polished and persists endlessly. Beautiful wine now and for the next 35 years.

Photos of; arial view of Chateau Haut-Bailly-fortunate to have spent two nights there, dinning room that I was fortunate to have dinner in, artful perspective of the Chateau and their brand glass doors that lead into their barrel room.

Wow! This comes right out of the gate fantastically. This is magical this early for 2010. 2010 is a great vintage but, built for elder years and children.

The nose reveals, slightly steeped, ripe & ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cooked pomegranates and cherries. Slight liqueur notes, toffee, caramel, mocha, melted chocolate, steeped fruit tea, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, dark spices, soft leather, light fresh tobacco, dry stones, graphite, expresso roast, dark, rich soils, with candied, fragrant, bright, dark, red, blue florals set in violets.

The body is round, elegant and ruby beautiful. The tannins are; dark, tarry, spicy, rounded and chewy. The structure, tension, length and balance live up to every bit of hype the 2010 was given. Slightly steeped, ripe & ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cooked pomegranates and cherries. Slight liqueur notes, toffee, caramel, mocha, melted chocolate, steeped fruit tea, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, deep dark spices with incredible palate heat, soft leather, light fresh tobacco, dry stones, graphite, expresso roast, dark, rich soils, with candied, fragrant, bright, dark, red, blue florals set in violets. The acidity is perfect. The seriously elegant finish is; ripe, slightly candied, brightly floral, polished and persists endlessly. Beautiful wine now and for the next 35 years.

Photos of; arial view of Chateau Haut-Bailly-fortunate to have spent two nights there, dinning room that I was fortunate to have dinner in, artful perspective of the Chateau and their brand glass doors that lead into their barrel room.

Nov 2nd, 2019
Mike R
9.4

It was closed for two hours but it finally finished strong

It was closed for two hours but it finally finished strong

Apr 13th, 2019
Lee Pitofsky

*didn’t take notes

*didn’t take notes

Feb 17th, 2019
James Forsyth

Rich, delicious and distinctly savory. Raspberry, mocha, nutmeg. Terrific soft velvet structure. Gorgeous.

Rich, delicious and distinctly savory. Raspberry, mocha, nutmeg. Terrific soft velvet structure. Gorgeous.

Nov 8th, 2018
Mike R
9.5

I have never seen a wine where these three critics are in agreement - RP 95, WS 95 and WE 95 - deep rich concentrated fruits as well deep red color - it is still young and took two hours to where the decant worked and so opened up - I am total agreement - all smiles

I have never seen a wine where these three critics are in agreement - RP 95, WS 95 and WE 95 - deep rich concentrated fruits as well deep red color - it is still young and took two hours to where the decant worked and so opened up - I am total agreement - all smiles

Feb 8th, 2018
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.

The 2010 is an excellent vintage but, it is for the later part of your life or your children.

This is drinking beautifully with a 4 hour decant. The structure & tension are just starting to their softening stage. The length and balance are in the forget about it range and will just get better & better. Ripe, stunning fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum & a touch of blue fruits. Moist clay & top soils, stones, mint, graphite, fresh tobacco, dark cola, anise to black licorice with stunning, withering floral bouquet. Acidity is perfect. The finish is everything you want in a Bordeaux.

Definitely a 99-100 point wine in 15 years plus.

Served with the Cheese Plate; Red Hawk, Hop Along & Roquefort. @Mathilde French Bistro

Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing, Veronique talking terroir/vintages & dinner guests.

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.

The 2010 is an excellent vintage but, it is for the later part of your life or your children.

This is drinking beautifully with a 4 hour decant. The structure & tension are just starting to their softening stage. The length and balance are in the forget about it range and will just get better & better. Ripe, stunning fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum & a touch of blue fruits. Moist clay & top soils, stones, mint, graphite, fresh tobacco, dark cola, anise to black licorice with stunning, withering floral bouquet. Acidity is perfect. The finish is everything you want in a Bordeaux.

Definitely a 99-100 point wine in 15 years plus.

Served with the Cheese Plate; Red Hawk, Hop Along & Roquefort. @Mathilde French Bistro

Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing, Veronique talking terroir/vintages & dinner guests.

1 person found it helpfulFeb 9th, 2020
Kenji Shimodaira

Definitely the BEST by Château Haut-Bailly!!

Definitely the BEST by Château Haut-Bailly!!

Jul 3rd, 2016
web bond

Big boy for Haut Bailly. Purported to be their best wine in the last 50 years. Highest elevation terroir in Pessac-Leognan. Probably under estimating this wine.

Big boy for Haut Bailly. Purported to be their best wine in the last 50 years. Highest elevation terroir in Pessac-Leognan. Probably under estimating this wine.

Jan 8th, 2016
Alexandre Calvi

Just don't leave this bottle unattended with your wife around…😋😋

Just don't leave this bottle unattended with your wife around…😋😋

Sep 28th, 2015