| 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 1940's. Until recently this Chateau was owned by the Aunt of Grand Puy Lacoste proprietor Xavier Borie who made the wine. The 40 hectare property has 22 hectares of vines (average age 35 years) and these are planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The vines border those of Lynch Bages, Les Forts de Latour and Pichon Lalande. The property was sold to the Cazes family of neighbouring Lynch Bages in March 2017 who have announced that “This acquisition will strengthen our presence in Pauillac with the aim of undertaking a project distinct from Lynch-Bages. In order to respect the estate’s identity and the integrity of its vineyard, the property will be managed independently and have its own dedicated team of technical experts.” 2017 was the first vintage under Cazes ownership and was sold en primeur. The 2016, made by Xavier Borie but bottled by the Cazes, has yet to be released. The new second label of Haut Batailley will be called "Verso". The 2018 is made from 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot and will be aged in 60% new oak. There is a separate technical team from Lynch Bages here under the direction of Daniel Llose who was wine-maker at Lynch from 1976.
Deep purple in colour. This vintage showcases the changes since the Cazes family took over the property. Bold cassis, iron and cedar tones on the nose - you can feel the solar nature of the vintage in the power of fruit. This follows on the palate, which is chock full of cassis, damsons and sweet dark cherry fruit. The spice comes in waves of cedar, vanilla bean and aniseed. Full bodied but never out of balance, the rich structure of tannin adds a real savoury edge and tightens the finish. This is a wine to hold. Long, bold and ageworthy. This also showed very well at Southwold 2018 - with consistent notes to the above when tasted blind.
I can’t remember a Haut-Batailley this tannic, yet the tannins are savory and very ripe with beauty and purity. Full-bodied, chewy tannins and a long and intense finish.
Blended of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot aging in 60% new barriques, the 2018 Haut Batailley is very deep purple-black in color and takes some coaxing to reveal profound notes of dark chocolate, crème de cassis, blueberry pie and anise with waves of raspberry pie, lavender and Indian spices. Full, very tightly would and jam-packed with layers of crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long with a mineral hint coming through.
This is a lovely wine from the second vintage under Lynch Bages’ ownership, full of power and poise and controlled precision. It has a slightly unusual blend owing to a greater proportion of Merlot than has been used in previous vintages, but it doesn't suffer in terms of concentration due to the thick skins and structure of the Merlots in 2018, and what you get instead is a creamy, velvety texture through the mid palate.
It has lots of tannins but they have the enrobed quality that comes from the higher than usual alcohols, and are extremely seductive. It’s more lightly framed than the Lynch Bages, as it was in 2017, and is enjoyable. 3.61pH. 81IPT.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2036
Tasted blind. Some rather exotic spice on the nose. Rich start melds into massive tannic structure. Bodes well for the future though there is no shortage of alcohol on this wine! 14.5%
Drink 2028 – 2050
59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot. Barrel sample.
Dark and pure on the nose just a touch stony/smoky to add finesse to the fruit. Oak is quite evident on the palate but there's fruit to fill it out. Less aromatic than the second wine (new name: Verso) but there's still a restraint and subtlety in a powerful vintage. Long on the finish yet the persistence is gentle. Fine-grained tannin texture. (JH) 14.3%
Drink 2026-2038
The grand vin 2018 Château Haut-Batailley is a beauty and is comprised of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot brought up in 60% new French oak. It's an attractive, elegantly styled wine that has lots of juicy Merlot notes of black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and spice. Rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and with terrific purity on the palate, this brilliant Pauillac is going to be approachable in just a few years and will evolve gracefully. This wine hit 14.3% alcohol with 3.61 pH and an IPT of 81. My money is on it being one of the best to date from this estate.
