Haut Bailly 1999

Tasted at the 1999 horizontal at Bordeaux Index. The Haut-Bailly has a very ripe, generous nose with rounded raspberry, wild strawberry, a hint of acacia and white flowers. Great lift and expression. With aeration it develops a lovely candied quality that is irresistible. The palate is medium-bodied, supple with rounded, fleshy tannins, layers of ripe red-berried fruit with excellent acidity and definition. Satiates the palate, superb length. A top quality Haut-Bailly in a difficult vintage. Excellent. Drink now-2020. Tasted June 2009.

This wine is light to medium-bodied, with sweet currant and smoke-infused flavors and some oak in the background, but plenty of red fruits, vanilla, and dried herbs. This is a soft, well-balanced wine to drink now and over the next 12-15 years.