Château Haut-Bailly Master Class with Véronique Sanders & Gabriel Vialard

Описание: In June 2018, Managing Director Véronique Sanders and Technical Manager Gabriel Vialard held a master class and vertical tasting of Château Haut-Bailly (Pessac-Leognan) for the Governors of the Commanderie de Bordeaux aux États-Unis. From the cool, late-harvest year of 2002 to the frost-hit vintage of 2017 (tasted from barrel), there was a remarkable consistency across vintages, which Sanders attributes to the great terroir at Haut-Bailly. Variables such as soil composition (mostly gravel with some areas of heavy clay), different elevations, retention of humidity in the soil etc. were carefully considered for optimal placement of varietals such as Petit Verdot, and elimination of most of their Cabernet Franc, thereby maximizing the vigor of their vines. Credit is also given to the late Denis Dubourdieu, who brought innovations such as the Italian method of pruning, which protects the vines and allows better flow of sap. In the tasting, the fruit and freshness (absence of jamminess) of the famously hot 2003 vintage was notable, along with the aromatic quality of 2005, the “pure pleasure” and creaminess of 2009, the great structure of 2010, the silk and charm in the “star vintage” of 2015, and a comparison (never claiming equivalency!) of 2017-- when frost left the top 20 HA of historical sites unaffected and drought came late in the season-- to aspects of the legendary 1961 vintage.

Tasting suggestion: Ch. Haut-Bailly 2017.