Chateau Haut Bailly   Haut Bailly

1990 Haut Bailly

By Chateau Haut Bailly

1990 Haut Bailly from Chateau Haut Bailly, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux

In the pantheon of Bordeaux vintages, the 1990 Haut Bailly from Chateau Haut Bailly stands as a beacon of exceptional winemaking from an estate that has long charmed the claret cognoscenti. This vintage, in particular, resonates with the discerning investor, offering a confluence of climatic serendipity and vinicultural prowess.

 

A Year Distilled into a Bottle

The climactic conditions of the 1990 vintage in Pessac-Leognan rendered a prelude to one of the most entrancing wines imaginable. Warm days and cool nights throughout the growing season set a picturesque stage for the grapes to reach optimal ripeness while retaining vital acidity – the hallmarks of age-worthy wines. This impeccable balance is vividly expressed in the 1990 Haut Bailly.

 

A Vintage Eclipsing Time

Three decades since its genesis, this esteemed wine greets us with a performance that is both enthralling and profound. The blend of nuanced blackcurrant freckled with hints of cigar box and truffle resonate through a finely structured tannic backdrop. It's this symphony of olfactory splendour and tactile finesse that engages collectors and connoisseurs alike.

As it breathes, this resplendent liquid offers a kaleidoscope of tertiary evolution, articulating whispers of forest floor and leather; whispers that tell tales of Pessac-Leognan's storied terroir and intertwine each glass poured with the narrative thread of its acclaimed heritage. Having blossomed magnificently, it proudly wears its age as a testament to the longevity afforded by such an exceptional year.

For those seeking to imbue their portfolio with provenance and poise, the 1990 Haut Bailly presents an astute investment option. Its sustained acclaim and unwavering pedigree secure its place as one of the investment-grade vintages - not merely resting on Bordeaux's laurels but elevating them.

 

Concluding Thoughts on 1990 Haut Bailly

The 1990 vintage illustrates Haut Bailly's masterful expression of time and place - a treasure that has only gained lustre with the passage of years. It is this extraordinary blend of attributes that makes the 1990 Haut Bailly from Chateau Haut Bailly so sought after by connaisseurs seeking both sensory indulgence and astute wine investment opportunities.

Current market price

$2,220.00

12x75cl

Highest score

90

POP score

133

Scores and tasting notes

90

While excellent, nearly outstanding, the 1990 Haut Bailly is not up to the quality level of recent vintages produced under the new ownership of American Robert Wilmers and his winemaker, Veronique Sanders. The complex 1990 offers up subtle yet persistent aromas of red currants, tobacco leaf, spice box, and smoke. This medium-bodied, fully mature wine exhibits sweetness as well as lushness, and is capable of lasting another decade. Release price: ($300.00/case)

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #183 June 2009

89

Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd's vertical. The 1990 Haut-Bailly has a refined bouquet that is very similar to the bottle tasted in 2009, with touches of leather and beef stock infusing the black fruits that are being usurped by secondary aromas. With time in the glass, there is a faint mintiness beginning to develop. The palate is medium-bodied, loose-knit than the '95, with the tannins just showing a little more dryness. However, there is plenty of smoky, tobacco-infused, dusky black fruit to enjoy with a cedar note on the finish that just lacks the complexity of the '89 tasted alongside. Drink now-2016. Tasted October 2011.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2013

Vintage performance