Professional Ratings
98 Jeb Dunnuck
The 2005 Château Haut-Bailly is the real deal and unquestionably the finest wine here since the 2000. Stunning notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, loamy earth, saddle leather, and flowers all define this rich, full-bodied, concentrated Haut-Bailly, which has sweet, mouth-coating tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and just a broad, expansive, incredibly sexy profile that just begs to be drunk. Bordeaux lovers need to have this beauty in their cellars! I love it today, yet it has another two decades of longevity.
97 Decanter
A near perfect growing season resulted in alcohols of 14% for the Merlots and 13% for the Cabernet Sauvignons, unheard of at Haut-Bailly. This is starting to show tertiary aromatics and yet holding on to its youthful character, absolutely teetering on the edge between youth and age. The tension of this moment is something to savour, and I want to both suggest that you drink it now, and that you put it away for another decade. Hints of leather, cold ash, cassis, pepper, saffron, all with confident tannins that embrace the fruit without making a big deal of it. The definition of elegant Pessac, as with 2001 vintage, but here with another level of concentration. Just so drinkable while complex and effortless. Long harvest from September 14 through to October 11. Drinking Window 2020 - 2040
93 Wine Spectator
Dark purple in color. Offers pure fruit, with crushed raspberry, blackberry and dried flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins that touch every inch of the palate. Long and racy, with elegance and beauty harking back to bygone days. Best after 2015. 6,665 cases made.
