Haut Bailly II 2019

The 2019 Haut-Bailly II exhibits aromas of rich berry fruit, cassis, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished, with a ripe core of fruit and plenty of rich, powdery tannin, it's a Merlot-dominated blend that was composed at the moment of assemblage (as opposed to a selection of dedicated plots).

The 2019 Haut-Bailly II is much more elegant and nuanced than it was from barrel, always a great thing to see. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright red berry, spice, tobacco, cedar and mint in this gracious, mid-weight second wine from the estate. The 2019 will surely improve in bottle, but it is pretty enticing today.