Haut Bailly 1986

Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd's vertical. The 1986 is actually 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has good intensity on the nose with blackberry, cedar and graphite aromas rendering the 1986 almost Pauillac in style (as many Left Bank wines tend to in this vintage.) The palate is medium-bodied with fine balance: blackcurrant pastille, cedar, tobacco and a slight dustiness on the sweet finish that retains that slight medicinal note. This is better than the bottle shown at the vertical back in 2009. This is a solid effort that continues to drink well. Drink now-2018+ Tasted October 2011.

Considering the strong, tannic personality of the vintage, Haut Bailly's 1986 is a soft wine that can be drunk at a very early age. The full-intensity bouquet of sweet, smoky oak and ripe, plummy fruit is very attractive. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine is long, rich in fruit, and supple, and finishes surprisingly smoothly. Anticipated maturity: Now-2005. Last tasted, 1/97.