Chateau Haut-Bailly Pessac-Leognan 2020 750ml

Château Haut-Bailly is a classified growth of Graves in Pessac-Léognan. American banker Robert Wilmers and his wife Elisabeth bought it in 1998, and since Robert's death in 2017 their son Chris Wilmers has run it. Véronique Sanders has led it since 1998.

The estate has 30 hectares of vines averaging more than 50 years old, including a parcel over a century old. The 2020 is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni of Vinous reports 15 months in barrel, 50% of it new. It's 14% alcohol.

The château describes freshness balanced with complexity, along with depth, texture and elegant tannins. Jeb Dunnuck calls it just about pure perfection, while Decanter calls it a profound wine.

Against Château Lynch-Bages 2019, Haut-Bailly is the Merlot-richer, Graves-grown wine and costs less; for elegant tannins over Pauillac power, choose Haut-Bailly.

Neal Martin of Vinous gives a drinking window of 2028 to 2048, and William Kelley of Wine Advocate 2030 to 2055. If you open it sooner, decant it for several hours.

Browse more red Bordeaux and our fine and rare wine. Pick it up at our Brooklyn store or get same-day delivery in Brooklyn, Manhattan & Queens.