2019 Haut Bailly II
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Tasting notes
The second wine of this incredible château in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the 2019 Haut-Bailly II has a classic Graves scorched earth character as well as pure red and black fruits, tobacco, and cedary herb-like aromas and flavors. Round, plush, and sexy on the palate, it does everything you would want from a second wine and will drink nicely for 10-15 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Haut-Bailly II exhibits aromas of rich berry fruit, cassis, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished, with a ripe core of fruit and plenty of rich, powdery tannin, it's a Merlot-dominated blend that was composed at the moment of assemblage (as opposed to a selection of dedicated plots).
The 2019 Haut-Bailly II, the second wine of Haut-Bailly, has accentuated the sous-bois elements on the nose since bottling, now feeling quintessentially Pessac-Léognan and quite marine-influenced in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, taut and fresh, still a little piquant on the finish but with more precision than I recall. This is very impressive. Excellent.
The 2019 Haut-Bailly II is much more elegant and nuanced than it was from barrel, always a great thing to see. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright red berry, spice, tobacco, cedar and mint in this gracious, mid-weight second wine from the estate. The 2019 will surely improve in bottle, but it is pretty enticing today.
About the producer
Quality at this château, now one of Pessac-Léognan’s leading wine estates, has risen exponentially under the reign of Véronique Sanders, with the property known for crafting wines of elegance and poise.