ready-improve2012 Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Not many châteaux in Bordeaux are blessed with as fine a terroir and a chatelaine as exquisite as Véronique Sanders, but Ch. Haut-Bailly has both. Véronique mentioned that after the highs of 2009 (£450.00/6) and 2010 (£516.00/6), she wanted to get her 2012 back within the reach of buyers perhaps ‘priced-out Eas well as attract some new ones.

The 2012 is a commendable reduction on the 2011 (£294.00/6)  Eand it is a very fine Ch. Haut Bailly indeed. It has great depth, and a warmth, but with structure there too , with all that old-vine intensity and classis Graves freshness that makes this one of the few Bordeaux to consider every vintage. It will take on more volume in time and prove as rewarding as any Haut-Bailly of the last 15 years. For me it is one of the wines of the vintage (true, it always is..).
Tom Cave Cellar Plan Manager

Possessing a warm and heavy coco content, Ch. Haut-Bailly has a dark, rich, chocolate nose which is outstanding and lures you in like a siren. It has a sumptuous, unctuousness texture and weight which would hint at a far more decadent year. I am not quite sure how Véronique and her team have pulled off yet another superlative wine that once again out-performs several of the First Growths, but I am delighted that she has. It was one of the most striking wines we tasted in Bordeaux; all we need now is a little bit of corrective pricing and it will be an essential case to add to our cellars. Drink 2020-2035.
Simon Staples, Asia Director