| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Historically a part of Batailley until the property was split in two in the 1940s. Until recently, this château was owned by the aunt of Grand Puy Lacoste proprietor Xavier Borie, who made the wine. The property was sold to the Cazes family of neighbouring Lynch Bages in March 2017. Quality has jumped under the new ownership and there is a stylish new label and a new second wine called "Verso". The 40 hectare property had 22 hectares of vines (average age 40 years) planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. A further 19 hectares were planted in 2018 and 2019 (mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon). The vineyard is extremely well situated, bordering those of Les Forts de Latour, Pichon Lalande and Lynch Bages itself.
Only the Petit Verdot from the new plantings made into Haut Batailley 2025. The second label is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon whereas the grand vin is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. 13.4% alcohol. 16 months in 55% new oak. Picked 8 to 18th September, yield 30 hl/ha.
The 2025 Haut-Batailley was picked between September 8 and 18, matured in 55% new oak. This has a more intense, bolder nose than the Verso, graphite-infused black fruit that is Pauillac through and through. Razor-sharp. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, but there is gentle and insistent grip. Sapid, an Haut Batailley that evokes images of the Gironde Estuary, this is a marvellous contribution to the vintage, perhaps the best under Jean-Charles Cazes. 2031 - 2058
Deep purple in colour, the nose on this year's Haut Batailley shows wild black pepper, toasted hazelnut and blackberry fruit. On the palate there are notes of summer pudding and forest fruits - the tannins temper the sweetness with pithy, chalky grip. Opulent cherry and violet notes, together with more toasted hazelnut and fresh pastry, build on the finish, together with lifting, lively acidity.
Matured in 55% new barrels, the 2025 Haut-Batailley wafts from the glass with aromas of dark wild berries, spices, flowers and licorice, complemented by elegant notes of violet. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s built around a fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, spicy and taut finish. A very fine wine in the making, it expresses a classical Médoc profile, notably with a fresh, subtly mentholated note on the finish. It's a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.
Medium- to full-bodied with well-placed tannins, a savory element and firm yet fine-grained tannins that add definition. Juicy and precise finish.
Good concentration, muscular but sappy texture, waves of liquorice, black chocolate, slow unrolling and depth, impressive. In this vintage, Haut-Batailley is less St Julien in Pauillac, and more squarely showcases the full character of the appellation. 3.7pH. 55% new oak. Harvest September 8 to 18. 2036-2055.
The 2025 Haut-Batailley is a brooding young Pauillac with a bright future. Dark and brooding, with tons of vertical energy, Haut-Batailley is quite the powerhouse. Black fruit, leather, incense, licorice, dried herbs and mocha are some of the many aromas and flavors that gradually open in the glass. Readers will have to be quite patient, as the tannins are rather imposing, but there's more than enough fruit density to balance things out. 2035 - 2075
