France · Bordeaux

Chateau Haut-Bailly

Château Haut-Bailly is a Cru Classé de Graves in Léognan, Pessac-Léognan, distinguished as the only classified growth in the appellation to produce exclusively red wine. The estate's 32 hectares are planted to approximately 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, with an unusually high proportion of pre-phylloxera-grafted old vines that provide exceptional concentration at lower yields. Acquired by the Wilmers family from the United States in 1998, quality has risen consistently under the direction of Véronique Sanders. Across 1,341 auction lots averaging $156 per bottle, Haut-Bailly has emerged as one of Pessac-Léognan's most consistently excellent estates. Benchmark vintages include 2005, 2009, 2010, 2016, and — notably — 2018, when the Château Haut-Bailly scored 100 points from Jancis Robinson and 99+ from Wine Advocate, briefly becoming the most acclaimed wine in Bordeaux of that year. At auction the grand vin trades between $100–$400 depending on vintage, with the 2018 commanding premiums above $300. Second wine Haut-Bailly II (formerly La Parde de Haut-Bailly) provides more accessible pricing. A unique aspect of the estate is its parcels of ungrafted vines from the 1850s — among the oldest continuously producing vines in Bordeaux. Rosé de Haut-Bailly is a small-production luxury rosé.