Château Haut-Bailly 2011 – Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé

The nose is fruity, racy and offers a nice freshness, a little structured intensity as well as a little stretched side. It reveals notes of fresh blackberry, pulpy wild raspberry and more slightly pulpy / juicy berry associated with a touch of cornflower, blond tobacco, small blue fruits, graphite as well as fine hints of liquorice mint /star anise, with a subtle hint of pepper and an imperceptible iodine hint. The palate is fruity, nicely mineral, fresh, well-structured, tense, stretched, almost elongated and offers fat, a certain controlled power, sapidity, roundness as well as a tangy frame. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of quite ripe wild blackberry, raspberry and more slightly juicy / fresh strawberry associated with graphite, tonka bean, cardamom as well as a subtle hint of meat juice, toast/toasted almond and a subtle hint of chocolate / cocoa. Tannins are precise, racy and finely tight. Good length. The finish is finely powdery.