Haut Bailly

History of Château Haut-Bailly

The history of Château Haut-Bailly truly begins in the 17th century, in 1630, when the estate was acquired by the Le Bailly family, who would give it its name. However, traces of vine cultivation on these lands date back to the 15th century. Located in Léognan, in the Graves region, this estate has weathered the ages and overcome challenges, notably the phylloxera epidemic in the 19th century, which devastated a large part of the Bordeaux vineyards.

Under the leadership of Alcide Bellot des Minières at the end of the 19th century, Haut-Bailly reached a level of excellence that allowed it to rival the first growths of Bordeaux. Alcide, nicknamed "the king of winegrowers", marked the estate's history by refusing to adopt American rootstocks during the phylloxera epidemic, favouring traditional techniques to preserve the wine's quality.

The estate's revival took place in 1955, when Daniel Sanders, a Belgian wine merchant, took over the property and undertook a complete renovation. His son, Jean Sanders, and later his granddaughter, Véronique Sanders, would continue this work, bringing Château Haut-Bailly to the summit of the Bordeaux elite. Since 1998, the American Wilmers family, with Robert G. Wilmers first, then his son Chris Wilmers, continues to advance the estate, notably with the addition of modern facilities, such as the new circular winery inaugurated in 2021.

Robert Parker awarded 98/100 to the 2016 vintage of Château Haut-Bailly, while the 2015 and 2009 vintages received 97/100, highlighting the complexity and structure of this emblematic Pessac-Léognan wine.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Haut-Bailly

The vineyard of Château Haut-Bailly rests on a unique terroir, composed of sands mixed with clay gravels from the Tertiary period, which ensures excellent natural drainage. This soil, particularly suited to Bordeaux grape varieties, allows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère to flourish fully. The subsoil, rich in faluns (petrified fossil stones and shells), provides the vine with essential nutrients such as minerals and trace elements, thus contributing to the aromatic richness and freshness of the wines.

The estate now spans 51 hectares, of which 39 hectares are planted with vines, divided into 52 distinct plots. A major peculiarity of Château Haut-Bailly lies in its old vines, some over 120 years old, offering rare genetic diversity. These century-old vines, planted by Alcide Bellot des Minières in 1905, constitute a true treasure for the estate and are the source of the complexity and depth of the vintages.

The vineyard's grape varieties are mainly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (34%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (3%). This diversity allows for wines that are both powerful, structured and balanced, while expressing the finesse typical of the Haut-Bailly terroir.

Vinifications at Château Haut-Bailly

The vinifications at Château Haut-Bailly are based on meticulous know-how and a constant quest for excellence. It all begins with manual harvesting, where each grape is carefully sorted in the vineyard, then again on a gently vibrating sorting table, to keep only the finest berries.

The vinification process is entirely adapted to the structure of each vintage. The grapes are first cooled before fermentation, then distributed in temperature-controlled concrete and stainless steel vats of varying sizes (from 50 to 110 hectolitres), allowing for precise vinification that respects the characteristics of each plot.

The wines are aged for between 14 and 18 months in French oak barrels, with a percentage of new wood that varies between 50% and 65% for the grand vin, and about 30% for the second wine, Haut-Bailly II. The choice of coopers is rigorous, with barrels from 7 different suppliers, allowing to enhance the fruit and finesse of the tannins.

The cuvées of Château Haut-Bailly

Château Haut-Bailly - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

The grand vin of Château Haut-Bailly is a model of consistency and finesse. Crafted from the estate's oldest vines, it stands out for its unparalleled elegance and precisely structured palate. Each vintage is a faithful reflection of Haut-Bailly's exceptional terroir, offering complex aromas of black fruits, spices, with mineral notes and a velvety texture. This wine is designed for long ageing, improving with the years to reveal all its complexity and aromatic richness.

Haut-Bailly II

Formerly known as La Parde de Haut-Bailly, Haut-Bailly II is the estate's second wine. Produced from the same plots as the grand vin, it benefits from the same care during vinification and ageing. Less austere than its elder, it is distinguished by its suppleness and immediate charm, while retaining the imprint of the terroir. Haut-Bailly II is an excellent introduction to the estate's wines, offering immediate pleasure while having significant ageing potential.

HB

The estate's third wine, formerly called Pessac-Léognan, was renamed "HB" from the 2018 vintage. Made from the youngest vines in the vineyard, it is characterised by great freshness, a beautiful structure and a suppleness that makes it a wine to be enjoyed in its youth. HB represents a more accessible version of Haut-Bailly wines, without compromising on quality and elegance, offering a fine alternative for those who wish to discover the estate's style at a more affordable price.

The vintages of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, two Bordeaux appellations, stand out for their consistent quality. The years 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 are particularly prized for their finesse and balance. The vintages 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are equally remarkable for their structure and ageing potential. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 confirm this continuing excellence, with wines offering both elegance and longevity.

Explore all the Grands Crus Classés de Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list, the First Growth of 1855, Château Haut-Brion of Pessac-Léognan, is a historical reference. For red andwhite wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac and Domaine de Chevalier offer interesting cuvées. For reds, you can discover the wines of Château Fieuzal, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Latour Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Pape-Clément and Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. White wine enthusiasts can turn to the productions of Château Couhins, Château Couhins Lurton and Château Laville Haut-Brion. These estates offer you a wide range of wines to discover in the heart of the Graves region.

Château Haut-Bailly embodies the excellence of Bordeaux wines, combining tradition and modernity to produce vintages of rare elegance and great complexity. Thanks to a unique terroir, meticulously adapted grape varieties and high-precision vinification, each Haut-Bailly vintage reflects the richness and diversity of this exceptional estate. Whether it's the grand vin, Haut-Bailly II or HB, each cuvée reveals a perfect balance between power and finesse, offering unforgettable tasting experiences.