Chateau Haut Bailly 1998

WINESPECTATOR: " I love the nose on this wine; multidimensional, with flowers, sweet blackberry and citrus fruit. Full-bodied, with superclassy tannins that are polished and very refined. Goes for minutes on the palate. Still very reserved and not giving all it has. Give it much more bottle time to realize its wonderful style. One of the sleepers of the vintage."

DECANTER: "Aromatics of gently smoked bracken, with stirrings of tertiary character that shows we are reaching the full expression of this wine at 22 years old. There is a softness to the tannins that is extremely enjoyable and a silkiness that perfectly showcases the balance and elegance of Haut-Bailly in full flight. Savoury raspberry and blackberry fruits with sappy acidities giving a juicy finish that remains very much on the elegant, controlled side - this is made for drinking pleasure."

WINEADVOCATE: "Tasted at the château, the 1998 Haut-Bailly is a wine that exploits what was a fine vintage in Pessac-Léognan, and appears to slowly improve with age. Having not reached adulthood yet, it has a simmering, powerful bouquet with smoke and truffle accompanying the red berry fruit, perhaps a little mintier than previous bottles. The palate is complex and well balanced, harmonious with kirsch and bay leaf, you could say "modestly precocious" in style. The acidity cuts through nicely here, lending freshness on the finish that feels long and possesses the substance to suggest that it will easily bestow drinkers with another 15-20 years of pleasure. You could broach this now, but it possesses the concentration to mature over the next 20 years without problem."

WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Close to fully mature, this medium bodied wine starts off blending truffle, cigar wrapper, tobacco, smoke and black cherries. Soft, elegant and open, the finish is quite nice, with its silky plum essence."