2014 Haut Bailly

The 2014 Haut-Bailly is very composed on the nose. It's pretty tertiary, but there is sufficient fruit to back that up, and it feels much more natural than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-balanced, and unapologetically classic in style, but unlike many of its peers, there is no austerity or dryness. This is a polished 2014 that should mature well in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Tasted blind. Deep garnet. Open and fragrant with leafy notes of undergrowth and cassis fruit. Cedary, too. Elegant tannins, just enough fruit at the core to balance the acidity. A bit lean overall but the tannins are really nicely done. (JH)

Oozes pure elegance, this is strikingly concentrated and yet precise, with a beautifully silky texture to the tannins, cool blueberry and cassis fruits, with peony and violet aromatics, along with curls of woodsmoke. Last tasted around three years ago, and it is starting to soften and open, excellent quality. This was not included at the Bordeaux Index tasting, so I Coravined a bottle that I have at home.