Long time admirer of Château Haut-Bailly wines, the iDealwine team is honoured to have organised this very special auction. For the first time, Véronique Sanders, its president, travelled to the very depths of the property’s cellar to select bottles rare bottles both in term of their size and their vintages. Each of the lots, carefully put to one side in the depths of the château’s cellar year after year, reflects the property’s story over the last five decades. And the cherry on top is that all the bottles are large formats, going from magnums to imperials. The auction is taking place on iDealwine’s website, finishing on 4 December 2025. Some lots also come with a VIP experience: a lunch or a dinner at Château Haut-Bailly’s private restaurant, nestled at Château Le Pape, a property acquired by Château Haut-Bailly which has become its luxury guest house.
A minute preparation
All the bottles chosen by Véronique Sanders and her team travelled north from Bordeaux to iDealwine’s expertise lab in Paris to be prepared for the auction. Each bottle enjoyed a photoshoot and the catalogue was carefully put together to highlight each lot. Behind the scenes, the teams at iDealwine and the château were busy getting everything ready. An initial visit to the château offered the chance to taste a few of the mature vintages that were being put up for sale (you can find our tasting notes below). Then, Véronique Sanders took a trip to Paris, which included recording a podcast with Angélique de Lencquesaing, iDealwine co-founder. Then, to conclude the preparation for the sale, an immersive experience was organised at Château Haut-Bailly for a select few enthusiasts.
VIP Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly
A few weeks ago, we had the chance to discover the excellence of Château Haut-Bailly’s wines during a VIP Dinner held at the property during which we tasted the greatest vintages. The 2016 crowned 100/100 by Robert Parker shone with its brightness, silky texture and elegance. It was followed by a dense 2015, complex and perfectly balance and then an irresistibly charming 2009.
The maturer vintages revealed a refined aromatic evolution. The 1996 was sophisticated and structured, the 1981 floral and delicate and the 1977 lively and elegant in spite of its discrete reputation.
To further the experience, the wine lovers present at the dinner tasted the 2025 vintage – a wine still maturing in barrels – which was promising and rare. Gabriel Vialard, Véronique Sanders and Cyprien Champanhet revealed the château’s secrets over the course of the event.
So if you would also like to discover – or rediscover –the world of Château Haut-Bailly, now’s your chance! This auction presents an unique opportunity to set off on an incredible voyage to the land of fine wines.
Tasting notes for the mature vintages tasted at the château in September 2025
The team at Château Haut-Bailly usually describe a vintage in a few years, which may help your in your choice when placing bids.
- 1985 Château Haut-Bailly – “Richness and grace” – A vintage marked by temperature extremes, from –20°C in winter and +35°C in summer. The nose is full of elegance with tertiary aromas of cooked fruit. The palate is silky and elegant, and the delicate wine transported by balanced acidity. A lovely length. (18/20 René Gabriel)
- 1986 Château Haut-Bailly – “Unique and sophisticated” – A cold and wet vintage with late budbreak, but ideal, even flowering. This is a unique vintage that was crafted using a single variety – Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is complex and concentrated. The wine reveals a touch of graphite about it with developed tertiary aromas. The palate is ample with black fruits and a lovely length. Perfect balance. (95/100 Yohan Castaing)
- 1995 Château Haut-Bailly – “In the Haut-Bailly style” – September allowed the grapes to reach great ripeness despite a mixed growing season. The nose offers an array of seductive red fruits, and the wine has a fresh profile. (92/100 Neal Martin, Vinous, 91/100 Jeb Dunnuck)
- 1996 Château Haut-Bailly – “The great classic” – The irregular spring was balanced by a dry and sunny summer, creating a tender, fine and elegant wine. (95/100, Wine Doctor , Chris Kissack, 92/100 Neal Martin, Vinous)
- 2005 Château Haut-Bailly – “Legendary” – A vintage defined by a dry spring, hot days with cool nights in summer, and a magnificent autumn. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, this wine charmed us with its supple tannins and very fine and delicate fruit. (96+/100 Robert Parker, 95/100 Jeb Dunnuck)
- 2014 Château Haut-Bailly – “Intense and energetic” – The 2014 vintage was a rollercoaster of emotions for the winemakers. 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot, this wine reveals a developed bouquet with notes of fresh leather and undergrowth. (94/100 Jane Anson, 93/100 Neal Martin Vinous)
- 2015 Château Haut-Bailly – “Abundance” – 2015 was a clam year for the winemaker. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the wine is supple, generous with a certain sweetness. Red fruits such as strawberries charm the palate while tasting the wine. (98/100 Jeb Dunnuck)
- 2016 Château Haut-Bailly – “Joy” – The 2016 vintage was one of extremes, record and luck. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, 2016 is concentrated with dark fruit notes. (100/100 Jeb Dunnuck)
- 2006 La Parde Haut-Bailly – “Classic” – The technical team had to overcome pressure from mildew, brought on by heavy rain in May. The excellent weather conditions in September and October, alternating between sunny days and cool nights, ensured the quality of the harvest. 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc reveals intense black fruit. The summer was marked by heatwaves which produced small grapes. The wine is delicate with fine, silky tannins.
View the auction with wines straight from Château Haut-Bailly
