2017 Haut Bailly

95 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

Bold and dense, this wine is packed with tannins, ripe berry flavors and intense black fruit notes. Impressive, it is showing richness now and a fine future. Rich tannins and a firm dry core will allow the wine to age well.

95 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

The 2017 Haut-Bailly is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it has a wonderfully spicy nose of cinnamon stick, cloves, anise and fenugreek with core of roses, warm blueberries, black forest cake and black raspberries plus hints of underbrush and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied with firm, ripe, grainy tannins, it has oodles of freshness and great finesse, continuing bright and energetic on the long, minerally finish.

95 POINTS

Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

A smoky bar around the time of the Third French Republic, alive with the scent of tar, tobacco, the essence of cassis and blackberry aperitifs and other herbal elixirs. Hints of flowers create the complex set of aromatics that bring us to this imaginary Café De La Paix, 1900. On the palate, the wine has polish, softness, energy and a lot of lift. Bright but not flashy, this is a classically styled vintage for the estate which will show well early, yet possess the ability to age as well. The wine was made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, reaching 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.74. The Grand Vin was produced from 50% of the harvest, which took place from September 13 to September 29. Unfortunately, Haut Bailly lost 30% of the crop due to the spring frost.

95 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

This reminds me of 2001 more than most wines I've tasted, and perhaps it's no surprise that a vintage that required a skilful touch and a belief in the power of elegance should do well at Haut-Bailly. It's hugely pure and restrained, with great aromatics and extremely well placed bilberry, cassis and mulberry fruits. The tannins are fine and poised, set against cigar box with touches of charcoal and slate. They build through the palate, but remain slightly austere on the finish, with a bounce to them that suggests they are going to age beautifully. They kept the vineyard team for three weeks in July, because the vines kept throwing out green shoots after the June rains. Harvested 13-29 September, the vines were around two weeks ahead all the way through the season. The yield was 28hl/ha overall, but only 2hl/ha on the frosted parts, compared to 40hl/ha for the unaffected areas, 50% of production going into the grand vin. Malo was finished by the end of November, but the vats are still separated and there will be final blend in May 2018 (which is what they always do). 4% of Cabernet Franc finishes the blend given below.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

Blackberry, walnut, iodine, and sandalwood aromas follow through to a full body, round and juicy tannins and an intense, flavorful finish. This shows richness with structure. Excellent 2017. Try after 2023.

95 POINTS

Jacques Perrin - Vinifera

Fumé, épicé, notes de ronce, de rose, aristocratique dans les parfums ; tanins sérieux, appuyés, vin nettement structuré pour l’année mais sans surextraction, serré, plus expressif sur l’allonge. Grand potentiel de garde prévisible.

95 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2017 Haut-Bailly is racy and polished to the core, with no hard edges and just exceptional beauty. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, new leather, incense, and grilled herb overtones infuse the 2017 with striking layers of nuance, but it is the wine's feel that really elevates it into the realm of Pessac-Léognan's best. The 2017 is an elegant and exceptionally understated Haut-Bailly.

93 POINTS

Jeb Dunnuck

The Grand Vin 2017 Château Haut Bailly is a beauty. This estate benefited from being one of the highest in the Pessac-Léognan region and escaped too much damage from the April frosts. As always, the wine has a more elegant, feminine style in its perfumed floral, cassis, and black raspberry aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, a tight, vibrant texture, ripe tannin, and a great finish, it’s one of the most ethereal, elegant wines in the vintage.