Le Prophétique, a future of exceptional quality

Chateau Haut-Bailly belongs to the Pessac-Léognan appellation, just south of the city of Bordeaux. It is the neighbor of the renowned Château Haut-Brion, offering a very similar taste, but at only a fifth of the price! In fact, the Haut-Bailly scores higher than Haut-Brion this year! The vines are over 100 years old, with roots that reach deep into the ground. As a result, the grapes can still ripen well in extreme weather conditions, ranging from heavy rainfall to intense drought. The year 2022 is a year of exceptional quality so far, but is a harbinger of the future. Hence the nickname of this wine: ‘Prophétique’. Fresh, refined, and layered, with complex aromas and a rare purity. A wine that becomes even more beautiful with age.

Tasting note Château Haut-Bailly

In the glass, the wine is an intense purple, almost black. The nose is layered and enormously complex. Dark aromas of black cherries, blueberries, wild strawberries and dark chocolate, roasted nuts, crème de cassis and black olives. An elegant note of mint and lavender. Minerals, forest leaves and black truffle. Full-bodied, but not heavy. Juicy core with a spicy and elegant finish. The aftertaste lingers for minutes. “The best ever vintage of this Château” – Neal Martin. Pair this wine with red meat, grilled dishes or mature cheeses. Best enjoyed from about 10 years after the vintage and can be aged for at least 35 years.

Vinification

The Château Haut-Bailly 2022 is the second vintage from this estate to be vinified in the new winery. The winery is ultra-modern and features cold rooms, harvest vats, and modern vats adapted to vinification based on the plots. The 2022 comprises 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit VerdotAfter the manual harvest and the sorting and destemming of the grapes, fermentation begins in stainless steel tanks. Subsequently, the wine is transferred to barrels for aging. After 16 to 18 months of barrel aging, the best wines are selected and bottled. Due to the low yield of the vines, the grapes are of exceptionally high quality.

Château Haut-Bailly

Haut-Bailly is currently showing excellent performance, with wines known for their balance and complexity. The 30 hectares of vineyards have remained unchanged within the appellation for 400 years. Pessac-LéognanThe château was built in the 19th century by Alcide Bellot des Minières. In 1955, Daniel Sanders took over Haut-Bailly, later followed by his son Jean. In 1998, the estate was acquired by Robert G. Wilmers, who entrusted the management to Véronique Sanders and oenologist Gabriel Vialard. Following Bob’s death in 2017, his son Chris is at the helm.

Awards:

James Suckling on the 2022 vintage – 97-98 points

Robert Parker on the 2022 vintage – 94-96 points

Decanter on the 2022 vintage – 96 points

Jeb Dunnuck on the 2022 vintage – 98-100 points

Jeff Leve on the 2022 vintage – 98-100 points

Vinous for the 2022 vintage – 97 points

Jancis Robinson on the 2022 vintage – 17/20

Wine Enthusiast on the 2022 vintage – 95-97 points