Farr Vintners Logo

Batailley 2009

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Batailley

Label

Tasting Notes

The finest Batailley I have had in many years, the dense purple-colored 2009 exhibits a boatload of tannin as well as sweet, caramelized, black currant fruit intermixed with hints of charcoal, cedarwood and smoke, a full-bodied mouthfeel and the aforementioned high, but sweet, well-integrated tannin displaying no jaggedness. Batailley often requires considerable patience as it can be one of the longest-lived Pauillacs. Atypically for Batailley, the 2009 should be ready to drink in 5-7 years and keep for three decades.

94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, March 2012

Tasted at the château. The Batailley was great out of barrel and is great in bottle. The nose has superb precision, not immensely powerful but very refined and focused, redolent of its neighbour Grand Puy Lacoste. The palate is very composed with succulent tannins, very refined with a spicy, vibrant finish that is filled with joy. Excellent. Tasted November 2011.

94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, December 2011

Currant and blackberry on the nose, with hints of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins. This is the biggest Batailley in years. Lots of improvement here.

92/95
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, April 2010

This is one of my secret weapon wines, that I know will make everybody happy when it is served. Signature Pauillac, generous but still with muscular tannins, loaded up with pencil lead, slate, cassis, cedar and mint leaf, with waves of liquorice and rose aromatics that keep you coming back for more. Ready to drink but with life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2036.

96
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, September 2022

Tasted blind. Muddy ruby colour. Low-key nose. But very charming, well-balanced palate. Neat and fresh. Not snazzy but very satisfying.
Drink 2019-2038

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2019

A well situated vineyard in Pauillac that can be relied upon to produce a decent wine at a modest price. 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot with a little Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, elevage in 55% new oak. This is very smooth and silky for a Pauillac with a touch of cedar. Lightish for the vintage, will be a wine that gives early-drinking pleasure. Charming and attractive.

91
Farr Vintners, November 2009

There is real power of ripe fruit on the nose, all very black fruit influenced. Cassis dominates the palate enriched by sloes and refreshed by bilberry. The ripe feel of the tannins ensures a plushiness towards the back. Drink 2022-2045.

89/93
Derek Smedley MW, April 2010

An impressive effort from a château that has improved considerably in recent vintages, this Cabernet-dominated blend is smoky and powerfully oaked. The extraction is slightly too firm perhaps, but the tannins are grainy and the fruit sweet and medium-bodied. 10+ years.

92
Tim Atkin MW, April 2010

Dense red, good leafy blackcurrant nose, good broad plummy fruit, smooth texture attractive leathery spice and good length. Drink 2015-24.

16.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2010

A rich yet dry Pauillac that's now very attractive to drink and has a good harmony in spite of the generous alcohol. Long, supple finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

93
Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com, March 2019
Read more tasting notes...

The 2009 Batailley should give the 2005 a run for its money. It is a slightly sweeter, richer, softer wine (somewhat atypical for Batailley as it is generally one of the more structured and backward of the Pauillacs) exhibiting a dense purple color as well as notes of smoke, blackberries, cassis, charcoal, and oak. Deep, full-bodied, rich, and already seductive, it should have 25+ years of evolution ahead of it. (Tasted two times.) Drink 2010-2035.

90/92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188), April 2010

Tasted at the château and UGC. Picking commenced with the Merlot on the 24th September, for the Cabernet we started on the 29th September, finishing on 11th October and the Petit Verdot the 12th October. A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this Batailley has a ripe nose of blackberry, black plum, sandalwood, mint and just a hint of white flowers. Not a huge intense nose, but much more refined, very Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied, rounded and quite supple tannins, yet good backbone as always on this Batailley. Very harmonious, insistent but gentle grip, a slightly powdery texture towards the finish lending a pleasurable sense of umami. Very focused and elegant towards the finish, classic in style and yet very "2009". This has the potential to be a benchmark Batailley after bottling (just be prudent on the oak please!) Tasted March 2010.

94/96
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2010

Bright crimson. Pretty deep. Succulent and sumptuous on the nose. Lots of sweetness. Just a little attenuated but should deliver satisfaction eventually! Date tasted 1st April 2010. Drink 2019-2030.

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2010
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.