Haut Bailly II 2019 (750ML)

94 DE / 94 WE / 94 WI / 93 VM / 92 JA / 92 JD / 90 WA / 92-93 JS / 16.5 JR

Wow, dark berries and violets on the nose, so sensuous, smells rich and round. Beautifully fresh on the palate, there is a real zing and burst of red fruit juiciness but also a lovely cooling freshness straight from the start. Almost has a blue fruit touch but there's strawberries, raspberries and red cherries too. Smooth tannins with a gently chalky grip that coat the mouth giving structure and body. So linear and straight yet also layered, nothing is too overt or in your face - precise and really elegant. I love this - gentle and well presented. Excellent. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drinking Window 2024 - 2039 - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

The second wine of Haut-Bailly is impressive, with ripe tannins and dense black fruits. It brings concentration, spice and a structure that definitely has a fine potential. Drink the wine from 2025. Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Haut-Bailly II is deep garnet-purple colored. It strolls nonchalantly out with open notions of stewed black plums, blackberry pie, and underbrush with hints of licorice, tar, and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of finesse with ripe, soft tannins and seamless freshness supporting the crunchy black fruits, finishing long and lifted.-Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

The 2019 Haut-Bailly II, the second wine of Haut-Bailly, has accentuated the sous-bois elements on the nose since bottling, now feeling quintessentially Pessac-Léognan and quite marine-influenced in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, taut and fresh, still a little piquant on the finish but with more precision than I recall. This is very impressive. Excellent. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Sculpted, balanced and easy to love savoury plum and grilled blackberry fruit flavours. This moves carefully through the palate, gently delineated, with delicate tannins, smoked caramel and gunsmoke on the finish. Showing more complexity than it did En Primeur, just as you would hope with a 2nd wine but is not always the case in 2019. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The second wine of this incredible château in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the 2019 Haut-Bailly II has a classic Graves scorched earth character as well as pure red and black fruits, tobacco, and cedary herb-like aromas and flavors. Round, plush, and sexy on the palate, it does everything you would want from a second wine and will drink nicely for 10-15 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Haut-Bailly II exhibits aromas of rich berry fruit, cassis, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished, with a ripe core of fruit and plenty of rich, powdery tannin, it's a Merlot-dominated blend that was composed at the moment of assemblage (as opposed to a selection of dedicated plots). - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

Beautiful aromas of sweet tobacco, chocolate and spice follow through to a medium body with sweet tannins and a round, creamy texture. Lovely now. Structured, yet juicy.- James Suckling

Ripe and pure on the nose. Dark-fruit notes, the cassis more obvious as it opens. Medium bodied with a touch of sweetness on attack then crunchy fruit on the mid palate. Slight savoury edge then minerally and dry on the finish, the Graves imprint present.-James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson