Batailley 2018

Aromas of blackberry, cocoa, oyster shell, graphite and black tea. Lead pencil, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Structured and intense. Tight and precise. Needs a few years to soften and open. Try from 2025.

The 2018 Batailley, matured in 60% new oak, is almost identical on the nose as I found it in barrel, decked out with attractive black cherries and cassis notes, the cedar element a little heightened and freshly rolled tobacco notes developing with aeration. Very fine delineation here, and the oak is well integrated. The balanced palate offers fine tannins that frame the blackberry and bilberry fruit. The salinity comes through nicely on the finish, which is less silky than before, but it waves adieu with a long spicy aftertaste. Very fine and very Batailley. 2023 - 2042.

Tasted blind at Southwold 2018. Deep ruby colour. Rich and oily fruit on the nose with hints of cured meats and cedar. The palate is rich and full bodied, dar cassi fruit in great intensity against tones of sandalwood and barbecue. This is a big, rich and impressive style that showed very well blind. It is bold in both fruit and structure, and should be cellared for another 5 years before approaching.

The 2018 Batailley is deep garnet-purple in color and offers up bright Morello cherries, black raspberries and redcurrant notes over a cassis and plum preserves core with a waft of dried mint. Full-bodied with a good core of juicy fruit, it has approachable, ripe tannins and a lively lift to the finish.

This has a less luxurious feel than some Pauillacs but it has an effortless to it that is not always the case in 2018 and still with the traditional edge of the appellation that you want from these estates with menthol, eucalyptus and cigar typicity.

It has firm tannins with clear signs of well-controlled extractions and presents as rich purple with violet edging. I have had the 2009 vintage of Batailley a few times recently, and there is something here of the same generosity of spirit to the brambly fruits, with lovely juice running through what are clearly fairly hefty tannins.

I'll be very surprised if this is not an exceptionally enjoyable bottle to open in eight to 10 years’ time. Great stuff from owners Philippe and Frederic Casteja. A yield of 52hl/ha. 3.6pH.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2038

Tasted blind. Winning richness on the nose. Neat and well constructed even though in a minor key. Lots of acidity and tannin with only just enough fruit. A little drying on the end. 14.5%
Drink 2028 – 2044

74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot; 60% new oak. Barrel sample.
Black core, purple rim. Cedary blackcurrant and already quite expressive. A note of dark chocolate over the fruit. Surprisingly smooth tannins, obviously carefully handled. Still chewy but not tough. Should come together. (JH) 14%
Drink 2026-2036

Deep ruby colour, with spicy, meaty oak and classic cedary fruit on the nose. The palate is generous, with a ripe core of black cherry and chalky, fine tannins. This is plump and round, with the juicy fruits and smoky oak giving a plush, polished mouthfeel and sweeter edge to the fruit through to a long and spicy finish.

(74 Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 Merlot, 3 Petit Verdot) | 60% new oak | 13.8% alc | 52 hl/ha Ripe and robust with juicy black fruit and decent depth this is a clean and perfectly balanced Batailley with crisp tannins and a neat finish. While a little monotonal I like the freshness and flavour and I can see it appealing earlier in its life than in a cooler vintage.