Chateau Haut-Bailly II 2019

The blend is a composition of lots marked with freshness and fruit, built upon a suave, elegant structure. Reflecting the virtues of the grand vin, Haut-Bailly II can be enjoyed young, although it has good ageing potential. It is a balanced and elegant wine. Voluptuous Merlots bring an aromatic freshness, enhanced by silky tannins. The second wine is soft, with a beautiful roundness.

Blend: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Advocate: 90
The 2019 Haut-Bailly II exhibits aromas of rich berry fruit, cassis, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished, with a ripe core of fruit and plenty of rich, powdery tannin, it's a Merlot-dominated blend that was composed at the moment of assemblage (as opposed to a selection of dedicated plots). Best after 2023.

Decanter: 92
Chewy depth to the tannins, buoyed up by juice rippling through the red berry fruits. Gourmet and silky, a creamy texture through the mid palate with hints of subtle caramel and baked earth. Excellent.

Wine Enthusiast: 95
The second wine of Château Haut-Bailly shows a fine balance between firm tannins and generous, ripe and dense black fruits. With 60% Merlot in the blend, this rich wine has a plump character that means that it will develop relatively quickly into a full-bodied wine.

James Suckling: 94
Pine, currant and crushed-stone aromas with some walnuts, berries and orange peel. Full-bodied with round, fine tannins and excellent length. Compact and very fine. Lovely length. Seamless. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon. Best after 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck: 92
The second wine of this incredible château in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the 2019 Haut-Bailly II has a classic Graves scorched earth character as well as pure red and black fruits, tobacco, and cedary herb-like aromas and flavors. Round, plush, and sexy on the palate, it does everything you would want from a second wine and will drink nicely for 10-15 years. Best After 2022.