Chateau Haut Bailly 2010

DECANTER: "As ever when tasting the two together, the striking thing is the difference in character rather than quality between 2009 and 2010. This is tighter, more structured in its concentration, more broad shouldered, but still intensely impressive and full of pleasure. Neither are ready to go yet, but this feels like it will last longer, and feels extremely Haut-Bailly in spirit, with an elegant but complex personality, and a grip that doesn't make a big deal of its power but refuses to give up. Blackberry, bilberry, black chocolate and pencil. Harvest September 22 to October 14. Drinking Window 2020 - 2045"

JAMES SUCKLING: "Great aromas of crushed blackberries with flowers and stones that follow through to a full body, with super silky tannins and a long, long finish. It fills your mouth with beautiful fruit and velvety tannins yet shows tension and form. This lasts for minutes on the palate. Structured and superb. Don't touch until 2020."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Just a super wine, you can smell this from across the room. Still young, there is volume, complexity, intensity, layers of fruits, silky tannins and a finish that does quit until the layers of fruit have done their job. This is a stunner. Because it is so good, you can drink it young, but if you have the patience to wait another decade, this will really be a knock out!"

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpur mit schwarzem und violettem Schimmer. Nobles, floral parfümiertes Bouquet, von reifem, fast cremigem Cabernet geprägt, dazu Veilchen und Cassis, tolle Tabak-/Terroir- Würze. Komplexer Gaumen, extrem dicht und doch schon angenehm stoffig, Tabak und Trüffel im Untergrund. Tiefschürfender Haut-Bailly mit Charakter und enormem Potenzial für garantiert 50 Jahre."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2010 Haut Bailly has consistently been a fantastic wine, and at seven years of age I have no reason to alter that view. It has a mixture of red and black fruit on the nose, wet stone, black olive and a light marine influence. It is still backward compared to other vintages, but it has not relinquished one iota of its intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This is a voluminous Haut Bailly, one that is beginning to stretch its muscles, with a gentle grip in the mouth with a wonderful saline finish. There is huge potential locked into this wine, but patience is needed. Tasted March 2017."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A powerful and complex wine from an estate performing on its top form. Solid tannins, layers of wood and dark fruits combine to give a wine that offers both richness and a dense structure. This Haut-Bailly should age impressively and for many years."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Chewy and brambly, but integrated, this carries a very hefty core of espresso, ganache, mulled plum and blackberry fruit. The purity starts to shine through on the finish, which drips with cassis and is threaded with a long warm paving stone note. Tight and backward today, this extremely well-built wine will need substantial cellaring. Best from 2018 through 2035."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "A standout in the line-up. Plenty of ‘wow’ here. Deeper colour and even more depth than 2009. Intense and packed with fruit. Very cassis, even liqueur de cassis. Layers of fruit again on the palate. Powerful and large-scale for Haut-Bailly but the plentiful tannins are finely honed and everything is in balance. Cool menthol note on the finish. Clearly has the potential for long ageing."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart blättrig unterlegtes intensives rotes Waldbeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Herzkirschen, feine tabakige Nuancen. Gute Komplexität, wieder nach Kirschen, frisch strukturiert, wirkt mineralisch, gut eingebundene Tannine, lebendige Säurestruktur, elegant und harmonisch, feine Extraktsüße im Abgang, blättrige Würze im Nachhall, braucht noch viel Zeit."