2005 Chateau Haut-Bailly Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 1x750ml

Robert Parker 95

Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd’s vertical. Like its peers, the 2005 has closed down on the nose and demands rigorous coaxing from the glass. There is a beguiling purity here: raspberry and wild strawberry, touches of fresh apricot and orange blossom but these aromas are all tightly contained. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a slight graininess to the texture. Blackberry, graphite and a touch of tobacco that lead to a refined finish this is intense rather than powerful with a long tail of flavour lingering in the mouth. Class…pure class. Drink 2016-2030+ Tasted October 2011. [Neal Martin, 10/01/2011]

Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030

Vinous 92+

Good bright medium ruby. Deep aromas of plum, currant, tobacco, mocha and menthol. Superripe and rich but with superb ripe acidity and firm tannins currently keeping the fruit and mineral elements under wraps. Just this side of severe today: here’s a 2005 that appears already to have shut down in the bottle. Best today on the back end, where the wine really spreads out horizontally to saturate the palate. I’d give it a good 12 years of aging; it should be very long-lived. Classy, sharply chiseled Haut-Bailly with noteworthy elegance. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/05/2008]