About the Wine

"The 2018 Haut-Bailly Il is a bomb. All of the richness of the year comes through in a wine that is bursting at the seams with fruit. Dark red cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint, and licorice race out of the glass. Ripeness is decidedly pushed, and yet the 2018 remains poised and impeccably balanced. Silky tannins wrap around the plush, sensual finish." ~ Vinous Media.

Château Haut-Bailly is a classified Grand Cru Classé de Graves located in the Pessac Léognan appellation, this Château it’s also known for producing one of the world’s most elegant wines.

Haut-Bailly dates back to 1461, where ancient archives prove that from as early as this year, these lands were already recognized as excellent for the cultivation of vines. However, it was until 1530 that the Château started to gain its well-deserved recognition. This was thanks to the Goyanèche and Daitze families, which were responsible of unify the best vineyard plots to produce the very first premium wine.

Today, this spectacular Château is the property of American M&T Bank’s CEO, Robert G. Wilmers. Robert describes this Château to be more than a financial investment, but a true passion. He and his team are completely committed to the continuous improvement of the Château. “In life and in wine, it is remarkable how far the application of good sense and science applied by good people can take you,”Robert says.

Gabriel Vialard has been Haut-Bailly’s winemaker for more than 20 years. He is a respected winemaker with a long trajectory in Bordeaux and has experience in different Châteaux like Smith Haut Lafitte and Chateau Cambon La Pelouse. Gabriel drives progressive change through experimentation while perpetuating the traditional values of the estate.

2018 Chateau Haut-Bailly II Pessac-Leognan is an outstanding second wine fromthis Château.This wine has been highly praised by some of the most important wine critics in the world. Vinous Media called it “a bomb”and Wine Enthusiast said that it “is a good reflection of the top wine.”

The character of this wine is a series of unlikely paradoxes. It is as complex as it is balanced: deliberate and discrete, powerful and gentle, immediate and timeless. The 2018 vintage in Bordeaux is one of the greatest seen this decade, Haut Bailly has reached new heights with this bottling.

Wine Spectator blessed this year with a 96-point review, stating that the wines have “terrific drive and definition.”And James Suckling had nothing but positive words to say about the 2018 vintage "it’s safe to say that 2018 is a top vintage. I am certainly going to buy and drink some in the future. And I am sure you will too. The plush fruit and ripe tannins make so many of the wines attractive to drink young but they have the structure to age for a long time."

Tasting Notes: 65% Merlot 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

A very elegant red. Crushed berries, some spices, and earthy tones as well. It’s full-bodied and structured with a balanced, velvety texture and firm tannins. Long, flavorful finale. A blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Try after 2023. ~94 James Suckling

The second wine of this estate, formerly La Parde de Haut-Bailly, is a good reflection of the top wine. Firm tannins are embellished by black fruits that give richness and density. While tannins are there, the wine is generously textured and set for great medium-term aging. Drink from 2025. ~93 Wine Enthusiast

Formerly known as "La Parde de Haut-Bailly," this second wine from Haut-Bailly will have a name change starting with this vintage. Composed of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested September 17 to October 9, the 2018 Haut-Bailly II is deep purple-black in color and leaps from the glass with exuberant notes of crushed blackberries, black raspberries, and plum preserves plus hints of red and black currants, menthol, mocha and candied violets with a touch of cedar chest. Full-bodied, firm, and very finely grained, it has bags of freshness and loads of savory sparks, finishing long and mineral-tinged. ~91-93 Robert Parker

The 2018 Haut-Bailly Il is a bomb. All of the richness of the year comes through in a wine that is bursting at the seams with fruit. Dark red cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint, and licorice race out of the glass. Ripeness is decidedly pushed, and yet the 2018 remains poised and impeccably balanced. Silky tannins wrap around the plush, sensual finish. ~92 Vinous Media

La Parde de Haut Bailly has been renamed Haut Bailly II as of this vintage. Right from the first nose, you can feel how intense this is, and certainly, it's a second wine that gives you a good idea of the potential of the grand vin. It's poised and juicy, with licorice, cassis, pencil lead, slate, and the tingle of minerality that tells you that we are with Haut-Bailly here. There's a touch of austerity on the finish, not giving in to the vintage potential for being overly generous. 30% new oak. 30% of production. ~92 Decanter

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