Haut Bailly 1990

While excellent, nearly outstanding, the 1990 Haut Bailly is not up to the quality level of recent vintages produced under the new ownership of American Robert Wilmers and his winemaker, Veronique Sanders. The complex 1990 offers up subtle yet persistent aromas of red currants, tobacco leaf, spice box, and smoke. This medium-bodied, fully mature wine exhibits sweetness as well as lushness, and is capable of lasting another decade. Release price: ($300.00/case)

Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd's vertical. The 1990 Haut-Bailly has a refined bouquet that is very similar to the bottle tasted in 2009, with touches of leather and beef stock infusing the black fruits that are being usurped by secondary aromas. With time in the glass, there is a faint mintiness beginning to develop. The palate is medium-bodied, loose-knit than the '95, with the tannins just showing a little more dryness. However, there is plenty of smoky, tobacco-infused, dusky black fruit to enjoy with a cedar note on the finish that just lacks the complexity of the '89 tasted alongside. Drink now-2016. Tasted October 2011.