The 2022 Haut-Bailly II is silky, elegant and polished. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, cinnamon and new leather are all beautifully lifted in this gracious wine from Haut-Bailly. The 2022 is an especially delicate, refined wine that captures all the finesse that was possible in this vintage. (AG)

Based on 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2022 Haut-Bailly II is medium ruby-hued with a ripe, opulent style in its mulled red and black cherries, licorice, dried flowers, and roasted herb-like aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, round, seamless second wine that's going to drink nicely over the coming decade.

The second wine is a blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, blended in spring in the year after the harvest, followed by an élevage in 30% new oak and 70% used oak, for between 14 and 15 months. This accounts for 30% of the crop, the remaining 20% going into the third wine. This is the first year Haut Bailly II incorporated fruit from nearby Le Pape. A savoury perfume on the nose here, with a little blackberry and peppered strawberry, layered with a little tobacco oak. The palate is fresh, savoury, charming, with lightly dried blackberry and cranberry notes, set in a supple texture wrapped in a firm shell. Good acidity here, and fine tannic grip. Lots of energy in the finish. An attractive second wine which probably won’t need too long before you can drink it, so softly integrated and tight knit are the tannins. I can still see this drinking well ten years from now though. The alcohol on the label is 14.5%. (CK)