Château Haut-Bailly

History

Château Haut-Bailly, located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, has a rich history dating back to the 16th century when it was planted by wealthy merchants from the Pays Basque region. The estate was later acquired by Firmin Le Bailly, a Parisian banker, who gave his name to the property. By the 19th century, it had gained recognition, particularly under the ownership of Alcide Bellot des Minières, who restructured the vineyards and built the château, setting the estate on its path to modern-day stardom.

After Bellot des Minières' death in 1906, the estate went through several ownership changes, including a period under Franz Malvesin, who experimented with questionable techniques. However, it wasn't until Daniel Sanders acquired the property in 1955 that a prosperous period of quality and restored reputation began. Sanders' son, Jean, continued this progress, and in 1998, the estate was purchased by Robert G. Wilmers, an American banker. His daughter, Véronique Sanders, now manages the estate, ensuring its continued excellence.

Terroir

Château Haut-Bailly is situated on one of the highest ridges on the left bank of the Garonne River, offering excellent drainage and a unique microclimate. The vineyard is rooted in a soil composed of sand mixed with clay gravel from a Tertiary landslide, creating an incomparable patchwork of plots suited to various grape varieties. The subsoil is rich in falun, petrified fossilized stones and shells, which provides the vines with essential minerals and trace elements, contributing to the wine's rich aromas and freshness.

The terroir is characterized by gravel, sandstone, and sand over limestone soils, rich in fossils dating back to the tertiary time. This unique terroir, combined with the vineyard's geographical location and the particularities of its hillside, exposure, and the heritage of its oldest vines, produces grapes of great finesse. The vineyard includes 4 hectares of century-old vines, planted by Alcide Bellot des Minières in 1905, which are interwoven with six key grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère.