Château Haut-Bailly 2021

A red wine from Pessac-Léognan with a seductive precision and finesse

The estate

Boasting a vineyard whose quality of land for vine cultivation has been recognised in local archives dating back to 1461, Château Haut-Bailly has quite a prestigious heritage. Earning the title of Classified Growth of Graves in 1953, Château Haut-Bailly turned a new page in its history following its acquisition by Robert G. Wilmers in 1998. Passionate about Bordeaux and its wines, this great patron and lover of French culture worked alongside his wife to perpetuate the historical heritage of Château Haut-Bailly. He took an innovative and modern approach to elevate the wines of the estate to the highest level of quality before his death in December 2017. General Manager of the property, Véronique Sanders, works with Gabriel Vialard, the technical director, to manage this iconic Pessac-Léognan estate with plenty of talent and passion.

The vineyard

Situated at the top of a hill in Graves, Château Haut-Bailly watches over 30 hectares of vines spread over gravel, clay and sand soils. The gentle slopes of the hill promote excellent soil drainage. These vines produce fine Pessac-Léognan wines.

The vintage

Although a mild, wet winter favoured early budburst, the vineyard was affected by the frosts that occurred in early April. Flowering benefited from hot, dry conditions during a spring with heavy rainfall, which caused coulure and millerandage, particularly on the Merlot, as well as strong mildew pressure. The weather conditions were particularly mild from mid-August until the harvest.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting from September 27th to October 11th. This 2021 vintage is the first to be vinified in its entirety in the property's new cellar. Initiated in 2017 by Robert Wilmers shortly before his death, the construction of this majestic, state-of-the-art winery was launched in 2018 by his son, Chris Wilmers, Chairman of the Estate's Supervisory Board. Designed by architect Daniel Romeo, the elegant infrastructure perfectly blends into its surrounding environment.

Unveiling a new era in the history of the estate, this 2021 vintage benefits from an ultra-precise vinification in this state-of-the-art winery. This excellent tool includes cold rooms, harvest vats and contemporary vats adapted to plot-based vinification.

The blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (65%)

Merlot (22%)

Petit Verdot (10%)

Cabernet Franc (3%)

Château Haut-Bailly 2021: Characteristcis and tasting tips

The tasting

Perfectly balanced, this 2021 vintage reveals a soft and fruity aromatic framework. Despite low yields, this Pessac-Léognan red wine is very precise and seduces with its structure and amplitude as well as its elegant tannins.