| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A well situated vineyard in Pauillac that can be relied upon to produce a consistent wine of classic Médoc style and breed. Quality has moved up a level in recent vintages whilst prices remain reasonable. The château is now producing a second wine - Lions de Batailley - which means that production of the grand vin has fallen from 20,000 cases to around 13,000 per annum. This selection process has further increased the quality of the grand vin.
The 2020 Batailley appears to have gone up a couple of gears since I tasted it just after bottling. It has a perfumed, wonderfully precise nose, almost Margaux-like in style, with scents of cassis and crushed violet blossoming in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent blackberry and hints of licorice on the entry. It's quite saline, building with confidence toward the finish of real heft. This will need a decade to come around, but it will be worth waiting for. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2032 - 2065
Aromas of black and red currants as well as orange. Ink pot. Cassis bush. Bramble berry. Graphite. Full-bodied yet tight and back-loaded with intense tannins, but they turn soft and polished. Very classic structure. Reminds me of a top Batailley from the 1980s, like 1985, but much more precise and clear. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot, 2% petit verdot, and 2% cabernet franc. Try after 2030.
Always a Pauillac that I love to recommend, as it is packed with appellation signature, and it suits the slightly serious character of 2020. Entirely delivers on En Primeur promise, with charcoal, cigar box, slate, crayon and fragrant mint leaf set against waves of black cherry and cassis fruit. 42hl/ha, owned by the Casteja family.
A strong effort for this Pauillac fifth growth, the 2020 Batailley offers up aromas of sweet blackcurrant fruit mingled with notes of cloves, baking spices, vanilla pod and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, with good depth and concentration, its pure core of fruit is framed by powdery, youthfully assertive tannins. 2027 - 2050
The 2020 Batailley is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it reveals flashy scents of creme de cassis, redcurrant preserves, and wild blueberries, giving way to touches of violets, dark chocolate, camphor, and unsmoked cigars with a hint of cedar. The medium-bodied palate is chock full of bright, expressive cassis and red berry flavors, supported by fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with a mineral lift.
The 2020 is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all picked by the end of September. The château are calling this the "third musketeer" of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 trilogy. Fermentations here were carried out at cooler temperatures in order to preserve the pristine fruit aromas of the wine. Deep ruby in colour. The oak is less evident on the nose than in recent vintages, allowing for layered blue and black fruit to shine through. There is some spice and game too, but it is subtle and well integrated. The palate is just as impressive, with fleshy cherry and cassis subsuming the smoky oak at the core. The tannins are polished but still grippy, adding savoury depth and ageing potential. The finish is persistent with cool cassis. Impressive!
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.
Dark fruit with cassis notes and a graphite edge. Fine attack, juicy and refreshing but backed by a firmness of structure behind. Solid, subdued and distinctly Pauillac. Still relative value.
Drink 2028 – 2040
The 2020 Batailley has a well-defined bouquet with quite precocious blackberry and raspberry fruit, graphite, just a hint of aniseed, very nicely focused and poised. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile black fruit and armed with commendable salinity and a very detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. Want a classically-styled Pauillac at a good value? Look no further.
The 2020 Batailley is quintessential Pauillac on the nose of very focused black fruit infused with cedar and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grippy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Classic in style, this is lightly spiced, showing impressive depth toward the finish. This estate has enjoyed a good run of form in recent years and this 2020 continues that trend. If you love the style of Batailley, you will love this. 2028 - 2055.
This is classically structured with a wonderful finish of extremely polished tannins and an ultra long finish. So much blackcurrant, spice and cedar. Seamless. 70% cabernet sauvignon and 26% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot.
Takes its time to unroll then shows sweetness to the black cherry and brambled blackberries fruits, followed by cigar, pencil lead and crushed stone. This is signature Batailley in that it has that essence-of-Pauillac feel. A delicious wine, such a great great drinking claret, really one to look out for in this vintage; already looking forward to drinking this in 10 years time. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 60% new oak. A yield of 42hl/ha.
Drinking Window 2028 - 2042
