Chateau Haut Bailly 2011

JAMES SUCKLING: "Wow. Wonderfully aromatic nose of currants, blackberries and lilacs. Full body but refined and beautiful. The quality of the tannins is exception. So fine. Lovely austerity and tension on the finish. Better in 2016."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The saturated ruby/purple-hued 2011 Haut-Bailly exhibits a glorious, subtle, noble set of aromatics consisting of red and black currants, sweet cherries, graphite, truffles and a faint hint of wood spice. The wine hits the palate with the profound elegance and purity that have become so much a characteristic under Wilmers and Sanders. Still youthful, with good acidity and freshness, this brilliant, medium-bodied 2011 needs another 4-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve effortlessly for 20-25 years. Ever since the acquisition of Haut-Bailly by American banker Robert Wilmers, he and his winemaker Veronique Sanders have dramatically led this estate to the top of the qualitative pyramid."

WEINWISSER: "50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 47 Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc: Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Das Bouquet zeigt sich tiefgründig und von den Aromen her klassisch, will heissen eine klare Caberentdominanz im ersten Nasenansatz aufweisend, schwarze Beeren, basierend auf Cassis und Brombeeren, Tabak, auch florale Noten sind da, mittlere Süsse und Druck. Feiner Gaumen, wunderschön etabilerte Tannine die eine feine Süsse in sich bergen, guter Rückhalt mit dezent mehligen Gerbstoffen auf dem Extrakt. Sehr nahe seinem eigenen 2008er mit tendenziell etwas mehr Substanz. (18/20). 15: Direkt nach dem etwas defensiven Fassmuster vom Jahrgang 2014 verkostet. Traumhaftes, sehr würzig-pflaumiges Cabernetbouquet zeigend, recht offensives. Im Gaumen satt, fleischig mit gutem Rückhalt. Kleiner Jahrgang? Nein - grosser Wein. Das macht enorm viel Spass."

FALSTAFF: "Zart nussig unterlegte dunkle Beerenfrucht, feiner Nougat, Gewürzanklänge. Kompakt, engmaschig, frisches Brombeerkonfit, präsente, tragende Tannine, frischer Säurebogen, dunkle Mineralik, hat Länge, verfügt über Entwicklungspotenzial."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2011 Château Haut-Bailly has tough shoes to fill following the 2009 and 2010, yet it's clearly an outstanding wine. More medium-bodied, focused, and firm, yet with a complex, layered style, it shows the tannins on the vintage, but the overall balance here is spot on and it has beautiful purity of fruit. It's not one to hide away in the cellar, but it will unquestionably evolve gracefully over the coming decade."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Forward, accessibile styled wine, with loads of upfront, earthy, smoky fruit and gentle, soft, textured tannins."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows a grippy feel, with lots of briar, pastis and plum sauce notes rolled together and driving through the sappy finish. Well-embedded acidity pushes everything along, while a pure echo of fruit hangs through the finish. Should blossom with cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2028."