Tasting Notes
Neal Martin 94
The 2009 Haut-Bailly has a very pure bouquet with blackberry, liquorice, hints of star anise and boysenberry jam, opulent and vivacious, a little glossy perhaps? The palate is medium-bodied with very supple and lithe tannin matched with a fine bead of acidity. Lovely balance here, fine tension with a insistent grip, layers of black fruit laced with cedar and graphite towards the very Pauillac-like finish. Superb. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits’ Ten Year On tasting.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2045
Stephen Tanzer 94
Medium ruby-red. Very ripe but subdued aromas of dark berries, black cherry, minerals, woodsmoke, mocha and smoky underbrush. Silky on entry, then utterly smooth and seamless in the middle, with outstanding concentration and lift to the berry, tobacco and hot rock flavors. Finishes with utterly noble tannins and outstanding, slowly building length and lingering perfume. This outstanding Haut-Bailly saturates every square millimeter of the palate without leaving any undue impression of weight. I was reminded of the time I was served three classy old Pessac-Leognan wines blind. I guessed that I was tasting Haut-Brion, but the bottles turned out to be Haut-Bailly 1961, 1945 and 1928.
Vinous 92-95
Deep ruby. Highly perfumed nose is brimming with blackcurrant, blackberry and violet; shows an almost fruit cocktail quality. Then smooth, dense and lush, with noteworthy intensity to its fresh black fruit flavors complicated by stony minerality and exotic herbs. A wonderfully seamless and concentrated wine with superb balance, very smooth tannins and an extremely long aftertaste. Though very ripe, this betrays no sign of overextraction or the exaggerated flavors shown by many other wines in this vintage. Likely to be one of the great vintages for Haut-Bailly.
Wine Advocate 97
Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Haut-Bailly hits the ground running with bold black fruit preserves, Morello cherries, baked blueberries and tilled earth scents with nuances of fried herbs, chargrilled meat and a ferrous waft plus a touch of menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the taut palate has a firm, grainy texture with a lively line lifting the core of muscular fruit, finishing long and earthy.
Anticipated maturity: 2019-2044
JancisRobinson.com 17.5+
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc. Ripe and creamy on the nose with cassis notes prominent. Really quite flamboyant and seductive for Haut-Bailly. Palate complex and gourmand. Delicious fruit, plenty of stuffing but harmonious as well. Slight minerally edge. Tannins firmly present but finely honed. Lots of charm and drinkability as well. (JL)
Anticipated maturity: 2018-2045
