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Haut Bailly 2004

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Haut-Bailly

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Tasting Notes

The 2004 Haut-Bailly is a candidate for the finest wine of the appellation. Its dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by classic aromas of scorched earth, sweet black currants, cherries, and a hint of pain grille. Light on its feet, but substantially flavored, it possesses stunning purity, good acidity, ripe tannin, and abundant flavor as well as length. It builds incrementally and subtly in the mouth, but it’s the real deal. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2024.

93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (171), June 2007
85/88
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (April 05), April 2005

Neat, lively, well-focussed nose. Bright fruit, definitely Graves. Fine tannins. Quite vibrant; should not surely be reproached for being 'only' medium weight.

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, August 2005
91+
Farr Vintners, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2008
Read more tasting notes...

A superb success, the 2004 exhibits exceptional concentration, elegance, and an almost surreal finesse-infused character along with firm tannin, sweet, concentrated red currant, black currant, and cherry fruit, and subtle notes of spicy new oak. Displaying fresh acidity as well as remarkable intensity and persistence in the mouth, and medium-bodied, concentrated flavors, it should reach full maturity in 5-7 years, and last for two decades or more.

91/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (165), June 2006

This is an estate to watch now that American banking kingpin, Robert Wilmers, has turned loose a brilliant team that includes the "retired" Jean-Bernard Delmas of Haut-Brion as a consultant. One of the finest Haut-Baillys produced in many years, the 2004 is a wine of great class, nobility, and pedigree. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by subtle scents of smoky oak, sweet raspberries and kirsch. It possesses medium body, impressive precision, a beautiful texture, a gracious mouthfeel, no hard edges, and a long, subtle finish. A brilliant effort for the vintage, it should be at its apogee between 2009-2020.

91/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (158), April 2005
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.