Chateau Haut-Bailly 2015
(Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France) - [JS 98-99] [JD 98] [WA 97+] [VM 96] [WE 96]

About the Château:
Château Haut-Bailly is one of the most prestigious Crus Classés de Graves, situated at the gateway to the city of Bordeaux. Its 30-hectare (74-acre) vineyard lies at the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, on the left bank of the Garonne river.

The mosaic-like vineyard is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. Certain plots lie a full 20 metres higher than others, demonstrating the topological diversity for which Haut-Bailly is famous, and which allows for consistently superb quality. The variety of soils and the balance between higher and lower plots, which put greater or lesser hydric stress upon the vines, gives Haut-Bailly a unique ability to adapt and perform in both wetter and drier vintages.

The outstanding weather in 2015 resulted in fruity, deeply-colored wines with great balance and excellent structure. Made from perfectly ripe fruit, they show harmony and a remarkable underlying softness.

Ratings & Reviews

98-99 Points - James Suckling:
“This is a vivid and powerful red with lots of bright fruit and spice character. Full body, chewy tannins and loads of fruit on the finish. Firm and focused tannins. Lots of energy and vibrance. Spice and violet leaf undertone. Pure fruit. Pure structure.” (Apr 2016)

98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Reminding me of the 2009, the 2015 Château Haut-Bailly has a riper, sunny, sexy style that nevertheless stays nicely grounded and elegant, with ample classic Haut-Bailly character. Sweet crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, loads of spicy, loamy earth, and cedar pencil, full-bodied richness, ripe, velvety tannins, and flawless balance all characterize this incredible wine. It actually already offers pleasure today given its texture, balance, and purity, but it’s going to evolve for 30+ years.” (Oct 2023)

97+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Bailly offers up a tantalizingly savory nose of smoked meats, chargrill, tapenade, unsmoked cigars and black truffles with a core of black currants, black cherries and wild blueberries plus wafts of iron ore and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and yet wonderfully plush with a powerful core of fruit—this vintage is truly an iron fist in a velvet glove. The finish goes on and on with persistent earthy/minerally notes and savory/sweet fruit. Although it is tempting and indeed delicious right now, the wine still possesses many restrained layers and should handsomely reward the patient.” – LPB (Feb 2018)

96 Points – Vinous Media:
“The 2015 Haut-Bailly is simply "singing" on the nose with irresistible, quite opulent red berry fruit. Wild strawberry, raspberry and cranberry are laced with iris petal and potpourri. Exquisite. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, melted red berry fruit mixed with cracked black pepper, sage and tobacco. This is very cohesive and complex on the finish, perhaps the most sophisticated Haut-Bailly up until this point. Tasted at the Haut-Bailly vertical at the château.” - Neal Martin (Apr 2022)

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Barrel Sample. This wine is finely balanced with its ripe, dusty tannins contrasted by bold blackberry fruits. This is an impressive wine that has great structure, showing the quality of the Cabernet in the vintage." – Roger Voss (Apr 2016)