Wonderful nose of decadent fruit and chocolate, with hints of meat and flowers. Full bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a spicy, silky and long finish. Tight now, but so fine and dense. Give it four to five years of bottle age. So lovely.

The 2008 Haut-Bailly, one of the longest harvests on record, has an impressive bouquet with gorgeous blackberry, briary, rose petal and bay leaf aromas. This is very delineated and focused. The palate is well balanced with fine-boned tannins. The acidity lends edginess and tension. The finish is cohesive and harmonious with lightly spiced black fruit, tobacco and clove. This is a lovely, understated but classy 2008.

A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 Haut-Bailly possesses incredible complexity. Tell-tale notes of lead pencil shavings, charcoal, damp earth, black cherries and black currants intermixed with a hint of subtle barbecue smoke are present in this classic, quintessential Graves. Medium-bodied with an emerging, precocious complexity, it is a super-pure, beautifully textured, long wine that can be drunk now or cellared for 20-25 years. Bravo!

While at this young stage there may be toasty aromas, there is also intense, perfumed fruit. This complex, distinguished wine is polished, with plenty of bright fruits and acidity.