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Haut Batailley 2020

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

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 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 are extremely well situated, bordering those of Lynch Bages, Les Forts de Latour and Pichon Lalande.

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

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2020 Haut-Batailley, matured in 60% new oak for 14 months, has a vivacious nose with mint-infused blackberry and raspberry fruit, a light pencil lead note underneath. Certainly one of the more intense aromatics in Pauillac with disarming purity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a wonderful bead of acidity keeping it tensile throughout. There's a sweet core of plummy fruit, hints of orange rind towards the finish that contains plenty of energy. Excellent.

94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, February 2023

The 2020 Haut-Batailley is rich and demonstrative, offering up aromas of blackberries and cherries framed by sweet spices, smoke and new oak. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it's broad and expansive, with more overt ripeness, body and texture than was formerly the case for this estate. 2025 - 2045

92
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2023

This is really minerally and stony with lots of chewy tannins. Medium-to full-bodied with a clean, fresh finish. Very classic Pauillac. Salty at the end with bitter citrus.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2021

A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot aging in French oak barriques, 60% new, the 2020 Haut-Batailley weighs in with 13.6% alcohol, a pH of 3.85 and an IPT of 81. Deep purple-black in color, it opens with seducing, beautifully pure notes of blackcurrant jelly, juicy blackberries and warm plums, plus hints of chocolate mint, lilacs and forest floor with a touch of ground cloves. The refreshing, medium-bodied palate gives a great burst of crunchy black berries, framed by finely grained tannins, finishing with a minty lift. 2025 - 2042

92/94
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, May 2021

Excellent quality, lovely depth and richness, fine tannins, elegant and balanced with a gourmet edge of blueberry, cassis, smoked oak and graphite, well balanced and easy to recommend. 3.85ph, 60% new oak.

93
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, February 2023

Full bottle 1,345 g. Cask sample taken 16 April. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot. Merlot was picked 14 to 18 September and Cabernet 22 to 29 September. Three successive triages. 14 months' ageing in barrel (60% new) envisaged.
Deep purple. Intense, savoury nose and silky-soft tannins. Classic modern Pauillac from a ripe vintage – which is to say that it is definitely sweeter than 'usual', whatever that is. (I wonder whether, now that the Cazes family own this property as well as Lynch-Bages, they feel a sense of competition between these two wines?) Not dense but beautifully textured with good freshness. 13.6%
Drink 2029 – 2046

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2021

The 2020 is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot, which will be aged for 14 months in 60% new French oak. It has an abv of 13.6%. Bright ruby in colour. The nose is expansive and intense, with cherry blossom, violet and riper dark cherries. Any spice is already wonderfully integrated on the nose. The palate follows, bursting with red and black fruit in equal measure, giving a glossy, silky texture. The tannins are fine and ripe, giving the wine superb poise. Bright acidity adds real vibrancy and allows the slick, fleshy fruit to shine through to the finish. This is another superb iteration of Haut Batailley under Cazes stewardship.

93/95
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, April 2021

(62% CS, 38% M; 13.6% ABV; 60% new)
Persistent, plummy blackcurrant and subtle mineral; lovely elegant balance, fresh to lively, very fine-grained tannin; red- and black-fruit ripe, suave, elegant, long and fine and juicy to taste, racy, complex, and of considerable finesse, and with lovely fruit persistence. A different order of wine from the interpretation by Grand-Puy-Lacoste; succulent, graceful, and complete. 2028–50+.

91/93+
Michael Schuster, The World of Fine Wine, May 2021
Read more tasting notes...

The 2020 Haut-Batailley was opened for a good hour before I commenced penning my note. This will be matured for 14 months in 60% new oak. It gently unfolds in the glass to reveal blackberry, faint sea spray scents (a whiff of the old Gironde estuary) and just a touch of crushed stone. This is well defined though not powerful. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins on the entry that frame the bright blackberry and raspberry fruit. This Pauillac conveys superb energy, especially toward the Japanese nori-infused finish, awakening and revivifying the senses. It is a classically sculpted and very harmonious Haut-Batailley that will give 25–30 years of drinking pleasure, but should be cellared for 5–6 years. Drink 2028-2048.

92/94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2021

Clear salinity and the fennel aniseed touch that I get in Verso de Haut-Batailley also. Gorgeous texture here, this has real balance and a sense of careful walking through the palate, a juice and a tension, with a saline kick. An enjoyably sleek wine, not as powerful as the Lynch Bages, and not intended to be either. Some chocolate notes as it opens, but this has an elegance to it that almost makes it more of a St-Julien, certainly not the powerhouse Pauillac that you get in Lynch Bages. Harvest from September 14 to 29. 3.85pH, 60% new oak, for 14 months. The Cazes family has almost doubled the size of the vineyard since taking over, up to 39ha.

Drinking Window 2024 - 2037

93
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, May 2021
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.