2010 Haut-Bailly (Pessac-Leognan)

The 2010 Haut-Bailly was served at dinner following the Giscours vertical. This has a powerful and almost primal bouquet with copious scents of black cherries, crushed stones and violets - the latter perhaps more prominent than previous bottles. The palate is, again, perhaps due to impeccable provenance, backward and obviously a decade away from its peak. But what a peak that will be, promising intense black fruit notes laced with tobacco and sous-bois. Quite audacious on the finish, the 2010 is a gem. 96 points