Chateau Haut Bailly Pessac Grand Cru 2009 750ml

Medium to deep garnet colored the 2009 Haut-Bailly hits the ground running with bold black fruit preserves Morello cherries baked blueberries and tilled earth scents with nuances of fried herbs chargrilled meat and a ferrous waft plus a touch of menthol. Medium to full-bodied the taut palate has a firm grainy texture with a lively line lifting the core of muscular fruit finishing long and earthy.

Offers a rich very dense feel but stays racy thanks to a strong graphite frame around the core of roasted fig plum sauce and maduro tobacco. Muscular but defined on the finish with a long tarry edge in reserve. This shows serious depth and is more backward than most of its peers. Should really stretch out nicely in the cellar.

The 2009 Haut-Bailly has a very pure bouquet with blackberry liquorice hints of star anise and boysenberry jam opulent and vivacious a little glossy perhaps? The palate is medium-bodied with very supple and lithe tannin matched with a fine bead of acidity. Lovely balance here fine tension with a insistent grip layers of black fruit laced with cedar and graphite towards the very Pauillac-like finish. Superb. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits’ Ten Year On tasting.