 | Chateau Haut-Bailly Picture of: Type: Size: Country: Region:
Design/Artwork: Winery Notes/History: In 1872, Alcide Bellot des Minières, purchased the estate of Haut-Bailly on the advice of Cardinal Bonnet, Archbishop of Bordeaux. A man with a passionate interest in using scientific methods to improve viticulture, des Minières was a legendary figure, known to his contemporaries as “King of Wines”. He reorganized and enlarged the property and built the chateau. Thanks to his drive, huge energy, and meticulous attention to scientific detail, prices for Haut-Bailly rose to a level similar to those of the Bordeaux First Growths – Lafite, Latour, Margaux, and Haut-Brion – and , until l940, remained at this level. 1955 was a crucial turning point in the history of Haut-Bailly because this was the year that Daniel Sanders, a wine-merchant from Barsac (Gironde) purchased the property and undertook a thorough renovation of the estate. In 1979, his son Jean took over and continued to raise the quality of the estate – reconstituting the original 28 hectares of planted vines and renovating the cellars and residential buildings – so that today Haut-Bailly has regained the reputation and prestige it used to enjoy.
In 1998, Robert G. Wilmers, a Harvard-educated American banker and Chairman of M & T Bank, and his French wife Elisabeth, purchased Chateau Haut-Bailly. They have shown a scrupulous commitment to quality and, under their ownership and direction, major improvements have been made to the physical plant and to the wine-making equipment. The chateau, which had fallen into serious disrepair, has also been beautifully restored. Today, Haut-Bailly is one of the most respected vineyards of Bordeaux. Day-to-day management of the estate is the responsibility of Veronique Sanders, the fourth generation of her family to be associated with Haut-Bailly, with Gabriel Vialard in charge of the wine making. |
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 | Hundred Acre Picture of: Type: Size: Country: Region:
Design/Artwork: Winery Notes/History: This is one gorgeous Cabernet that is amazingly rich, full-bodied and opulent. Layers of black currant, black berry, and plum with mocha, espresso, graphite and cigar spice. This is deep, structured, and finishes long. The Ark Vineyard is a 17 acre parcel on the property of Jayson’s home and winery on Howell Mountain where yields are tiny, about one ton of fruit per acre. Hundred Acre is a Parker darling with 94-96 points from The Wine Advocate and a well respected 95-100 points, Wine Spectator. James Laube said, this “has all the ingredients for greatness”. |
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