CHÂTEAU HAUT BAILLY

The 2012 Haut Bailly is quite fragrant and inviting. Dark raspberries, mint, crushed flowers, spices and rose petals all lift from the glass in this feminine, gracious Haut-Bailly that offers considerable near and medium-term appeal. All the elements fall into place in an effortless, stunningly beautiful wine endowed with personality and class. One of the wines of the vintage, the Haut Bailly will drink well for two decades-plus. This is a superb showing from proprietor Bob Wilmers and his team headed by Véronique Sanders. The decision to lower temperatures in fermentation and go for a soft, gentle extraction, along with strict selection has paid off big time. Drinking range: 2018 - 2037 Rating: 96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jan 2016)

The Grand Vin is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, picked between September 27th and October 15th. The nose is comparatively reserved, broody black fruit, wild strawberry and hint of cedar. It is nicely focused, less precocious than recent vintages. The palate is soft and very smooth on the entry. Velvety soft tannins, although it needs just a little more lift on the mid-palate. It is quite linear towards the finish, quite caressing in the mouth with just a little new oak to be absorbed. There is nice grip and persistency here – a classic Haut-Bailly Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2013)

Deep purple-ruby. Clean, fresh, very deep aromas of cassis, blackberry, minerals and smoke. Rich, dense and suave, offering intense flavors of dark cherry and blackcurrant lifted by graphite and ink. Finishes very long and pure. Estate manager Veronique Sanders plans to age this very promising Haut-Bailly for about 18 months in 50% new oak. For my money, this is one of the top 20 wines of the vintage. Rating: 90-92 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (May 2013)

While the 2012 Haut-Bailly is not as powerful or rich as the 2009 and 2010, it is classically elegant, racy and noble. This medium-bodied effort is the poster child for elegance, finesse, balance and equilibrium. The Cantemerle of Pessac-Leognan? Its deep ruby/plum/purple color is followed by a sweet nose of black cherries, black currants, lead pencil shavings and a touch of spicy oak. This medium-bodied, pretty wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and last for two decades. The grand vin has been impressive under the administration of Veronique Sanders and her boss, Robert Wilmers, who has given her carte blanche to do whatever is necessary. 2017 - 2037 Rating: 91-93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2013)

As it often does, Haut-Bailly has made one of the leading wines in Pessac-Léognan in 2012, and one that wouldn’t look out of place alongside its 2010. It’s a serious red, built for cellaring, with plenty of concentration, aromatic, floral fruit, tangy acidity and layered, age-worthy tannins. Drink: 2022-35 Rating: 94 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2013)

Superb colour, fine depth of earthy fruit, slightly green now, but natural richness and fragrance for a very good future. Drink: 2017 - 2030. Rating: 17.5 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2013)

Rating: 18 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2013)

Dark with a purple rim. Lifted, appetising nose. Racy and flattering even if without enormous concentration. Flattering mouthfeel. No rusticity here! Though perhaps a little alcohol on the dry, slightly angular finish. A menthol note. 2020-2032. Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2013)

Very pure, with dusty cherry, plum and cassis fruit flavors, featuring a suave finish threaded with warm stone and licorice notes. Shows solid length for the vintage. Rating: 90-93 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2013)