Château Haut-Bailly 2018

The expression and structure of a Haut-Bailly from a solar vintage

A magnificent expression of the great Graves terroir, the 2018 vintage of the prestigious Grand Cru Classé - Château Haut-Bailly - is one of the most beautiful wines of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, south of Bordeaux.

A vintage marked by extreme climatic contrasts, 2018 began with very heavy rainfall. The warm and humid month of June increased the mildew pressure in the vineyards of Bordeaux. However, a miracle finally occurred in mid-July and summer settled in over the course of 4 sunny months. These wonderful conditions favoured a beautiful ripeness in the grapes, which were rich in anthocyanins and had a very high aromatic concentration. The "tailor-made" grape harvest began on September 17th and lasted for four weeks, ending on October 9, with each grape variety harvested at its right stage of maturity.

A superb success, the Château Haut-Bailly 2018 has rewarded the effort made by the international team of grape harvesters of the property, who worked with energy and passion to create a great vintage. The high-performance equipment at Château Haut-Bailly include a state-of-the-art destemmer and sorting table. Although the quantities harvested were small, the fruit was of exceptional quality, foreshadowing the best.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%), Petit Verdot (5%) and Cabernet Franc (5%), the Château Haut-Bailly 2018 offers the experience of a red Grand Vin from Pessac-Léognan, endowed with the unique and recognisable signature style of the property.

At the tasting, the Château Haut-Bailly 2018 seduces with its aromatic purity. The bouquet springs from the glass, offering beautiful notes of black fruit and cherry, along with fresh cedar notes and floral fragrances, punctuated by hints of smoke. The wine wraps the gourmet palate in its ample and generous texture, which reveals a powerful structure and perfectly melted tannins of great tenderness. Of great nobility and complexity, the development on the palate continues, while maintaining fresh fruit all the way up to a racy and persistent finish. A magnificent vintage of Château Haut-Bailly, that is solar, opulent and expressive.