2020 Château Haut-Bailly HB Haut-Bailly, France, Bordeuax, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

This is the third wine of Chateau Haut-Baily. It has only been produced under the HB moniker since 2019. If the third wine is this good, then the first and second should be fantastic. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is tight but eventually opens to show cassis with some spice and gravel/char. velvety texture. Firm tannins. The palate has cassis with char. Deep but tight. A bit of bitter cherry (in a good way) on the finish. This needs a few years, maybe five, of good cellaring and should drink well for ten after that. Classic Bordeaux foods should work well such as Lamb, but it would be nice with a vegetarian Risotto as well.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2020

Current Price:

$29.00USD

2008 Château Haut-Bailly, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$100.00USD

This is certainly one of the stars of its region. While not in the category of Haut Brion, neither is the pricing. Of course, it is not inexpensive either. This bottle was purchased on release. It was allowed to breathe for an hour and then consumed over the next few. Still on the young side, it offers up plenty of enjoyment right now. If you have a few, go ahead. If you just have one or two, then it's a hold. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, black cherries, some cedar, spice and a bit of minerality. On the palate, light tannins. Tight layers that unwind in the glass of cass

2008 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$450.00USD

This is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. A gorgeous wine that is still very young. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is pretty classic for Haut Brion with cassis, crushed gravel, slight asphalt and strawberries. On the palate there are silky but firm tannins. Deep and complex, the layers unwind in the glass. Cassis and black cherries, slight strawberries over gravel and earth. Great balance. Long finish. This needs another ten years to maturity and should be there for a couple more decades after that. It is delicious right now but give it air.

2004 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

2004

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$590.00USD

My personal favorite of the First Growths. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose is classic with cassis, black raspberries, gravel and slight black olives. Full bodied. Good acidity. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is a powerful Haut Brion which is interesting as the vintage was good but not great. Complex. Just starting to show signs of maturity. Cassis and black raspberry fruit with underlying char and gravel. Long finish. This may still improve a bit. Drink over the next twelve to fifteen years and probably more. This would work well with a beef a

2002 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

2002

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$400.00USD

From Magnum. This was an ok year in Bordeaux, but Haut Brion may have made the wine of the vintage. In regular bottles, this should be at or past peak, but in Magnum it was doing just fine. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and flat. The nose is mature with cassis, cigar box, gravel and slight char. Medium bodied. Medium silky tannins. On the palate, cassis, with some tobacco, gravel and char. Some complexity. Good finish. Older bottles are always variable, but these should be drunk sooner than later. This will work better with hearty food. Cassoulet would work we

1996 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

1996

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$460.00USD

Typically, Haut Brion is my favorite of all the first growths. Perhaps because the blend is a bit different. This vintage is 50% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc. At age 24, this is just about at maturity. Purple/ruby in color, but starting to show some browning. Mostly clear and bright. The nose has black cherries, cherries, tobacco and slight earthiness. On the palate, a nice tart but sweet fruit - cherries, black cherries and slight black raspberries. Layers of complexity. Long finish. This won't get better from here, but should have ten to fifteen years a

2020 Château Haut-Bailly HB Haut-Bailly, France, Bordeuax, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

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