Château
BatailleyDiscover the wine

Decanter : 97

James Suckling : 95-96

Markus Del Monego MW : 96+

Yves Beck : 95-97

Bernard Burtschy : 97-98

Decanter : 97

James Suckling : 95-96

Markus Del Monego MW : 95-97

Yves Beck : 95-97

Bernard Burtschy : 97-98

James Suckling : 95-96

La Revue du Vin de France : 18-18,5

Bettane & Desseauve : 18

Complet, associant puissance, finesse aromatique, haute maturité mais aussi fraîcheur, très belle extraction tannique, exemplaire du classicisme bordelais.

James Suckling : 94-95

This is very structured and dense with lots of fruit and tannin, yet it’s tight and long. Linear and racy. Muscular.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown The Wine Advocate : 92-94

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.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 92-94

Apr 19, 2019.

The crème de cassis is strong here and it’s the perfect match for the full-bodied, ripe, round, dark, fresh, spicy red berry palate. The tannins are powerful, yet refined, which is perfect for all that juicy, peppery fruit in the finish. If you can wait and give this wine 7-9 years or more before popping a cork, you will experience all of its true Pauillac character.

Markus Del Monego MW : 95

Dark purple red colour with violet hue and black core. Powerful nose with excellent structure, restrained fruit, distinct minerality, subtle oak and multi-layered mild spices. On the palate powerful with persistent character, ripe tannins, well structured with excellent length.

Andrew Caillard : 96

Deep crimson. Attractive blackcurrant, mocha espresso aromas. Well concentrated supple wine with lovely concentrated blackcurrant pastille flavours, brambly textures and underlying roasted chestnut notes. Lovely mid-palate richness and volume with fine long fresh mineral acidity. Very good wine with precision and fruit density.

Jane Anson Decanter : 95

Julia Harding MW Jancis Robinson : 16

29 Mar 2019

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.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator

Plum and cassis notes are melded with soft tobacco and toast accents, ending with a slightly dusty feel on the finish. Gently expressive, in a vintage where concentration and energy are the norm.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 92-94

4/1/2019

Barrel Sample. This is an open style that displays a black fruit flavor and soft tannins. Its berry flavors and ripe fruitiness are full integrated with the spice tone and bright acidity. Look for this wine to age well over the next 10 years.

Christer Byklum : 91-93

Ruby. Anise, liquorice, cassis, blueberries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, cassis, some spices, elegant texture, long.

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5-17

74% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 3% petit verdot. Epices, tabac, bouche onctueuse, fraîche, tanins délicats, frais, soyeux.

Yves Beck Beckustator : 94-96

Andre Kunz Weingabriel : 18

Chris Kissack The Wine Doctor : 93-95

Matthew Jukes : 17

Jean-Marc Quarin : 17

Yohan Castaing Anthocyanes : 92-94

Nez fruité et gourmand, des notes de framboise, de mure, de cassis. Charnue et juteuse, la bouche est bien structurée, pleine et veloutée. Un beau 2018 dans cette propriété qui engage des efforts qualitatifs visibles.

Bernard Burtschy : 93-94

Lisa Perrotti-Brown The Wine Advocate : 91-93

27th Apr 2018

Blended of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Batailley gives profound notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums and licorice over a core of espresso, tapenade and Marmite toast. Medium-bodied with a ripe, firm backbone of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the vivacious, sustained fruit, it finishes long with a red fruit lift.

James Suckling : 94

22 Dec, 2019

This is straight and transparent with currant and dark-chocolate aromas. Orange peel, light tar and violets. Medium to full body. Gorgeous core of dark fruit and polished tannins that push out the edge of the wine, giving it a seamless texture. A blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 3% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to show it all.

Jane Anson Decanter : 93

21 Nov 2019

Filled with Pauillac signature of method and cassis on the nose, this feels polished and textured, layered with liquorice and coffee beans, with smoked, burnished oak flavours that help elongate the palate. Batailley is invariably an extremely drinkable Pauillac that delivers over the medium to long term, and this is an enjoyable and approachable wine in 2017.

Jancis Robinson : 16,5

16 Oct 2019

Very dark crimson. Intense animal notes on sweet cassis. A little more diffuse than the two wines from Mouton that flank it in this tasting (Chx d’Armailhac and Clerc Milon 2017) but a very solid effort. Not exactly subtle but it should please bordeaux lovers in the medium term.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 92

Mar 31, 2020

This offers up a small plume of cocoa before steering back to more typical dark currant and black cherry fruit notes, inlaid with graphite and sweet tobacco details. The cocoa edge lingers on the finish, adding a light dusty hint to the well-rendered fruit.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 92

Apr 26, 2018.

Cigar box, tobacco, crème de cassis and forestry create the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine offers soft, polished, dark red fruits, spice, blackberry and tobacco. Nearly forward in style, this is a charming Pauillac that will age for at least 2 decades with little effort.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 92-94

4/1/2018

Barrel Sample. This smoky wine is full of dark fruits and ripe tannins. It has spice and intense acidity as well as concentrated tannins. It will be a rich wine as it develops.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16

Notes classiques de cèdre et de tabac, corps équilibré, vin net, précis, sérieux, encore sur la réserve. Dégusté au château.

Chris Kissack The Wine Doctor : 92

La Revue du Vin de France : 17,5

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 17

Jacques Perrin 1000 plateaux : 92

Andre Kunz Weingabriel : 17

Yves Beck Beckustator : 93

Matthew Jukes : 17

Jean Marc Quarin : 15,75

James Suckling : 96

20 Jan, 2019

Shows beautiful, ripe cabernet aromas with currants, plums, meat and smoke. Flowers, too. Full body, deep and ripe fruit and exquisite, ripe tannins. Flavorful finish. Tight right now, but shows excellent potential. Best ever.

Markus Del Monego MW : 96

Dark purple red with violet hue and black core. Well concentrated nose, rich aroma reminiscent of ripe plums, black cherries, excellent toasting aroma and fine hints of vanilla, cloves and gingerbread. On the palate well structured with excellent depth and length, the best Batailley ever tasted en primeur. This wine confirms the very positive evolution of the last decade on style and quality.

Neal Martin The Wine Advocate : 93-95

28th Apr 2017

The 2016 Batailley is a blend of 12% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 85% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 50h hectoliters per hectare. Matured in 60% new oak. It has an intense graphite infused bouquet with fine delineation, some freshly picked Pauillac mint coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin that grip the mouth insistently; with graphite and tobacco-infused black fruit dominating, this a classically styled Batailley in the vein of previous vintages with the elegance coming through towards the finish. This is one of those wines that grows on you, perhaps not as easy or as charming to taste as other Pauillac 2016s at this stage, but knowing this property well, I know how it can blossom when it matters, which is when you and I drink it.

Jancis Robinson : 17+

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 93

Jane Anson Decanter : 93

Juha Lihtonen – The Best Scandinavian Sommelier 2003: 93

March 2020

Deep, purple color. Rich, perfumed nose with intense blackberry and cassis fruit with lovely toasty aromas of deliciously roasted coffee. Really seductive nose. Medium-bodied palate with refined tannin structure and sophisticated texture. Lovely flavour profile of cedar, blackberries, red flowers, and dark chocolate. Lingering long aftertaste shows mouthwatering mineral saltiness. So charming and electric wine!

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 93

Apr 29, 2017.

Cassis and blackberries, creamy tannins, juicy, fresh berries, medium/full bodied with a blast of sweet, black currants in the finish, the wine has freshness, fruit and length and could be the best vintage in the history of the estate.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 95

5/1/2019

This wine shows all the power of the vintage, with rich tannins and sumptuous black-currant fruit. A lot of expensive work has gone into bringing this estate up to this level and this excellent bottling is the result. Drink the wine from 2025.

Bettane & Desseauve : 17,5

Grand tannin racé, allonge profonde, noblesse de définition, grande fraîcheur.

Jean Marc Quarin : 17

Yves Beck Beckustator : 96

Yohan Castaing Anthocyanes : 94

La Revue du Vin de France : 18

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 18

1000 plateaux Jacques Perrin : 92-94

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5-17

Matthew Jukes : 17

Chris Kissack The Wine Doctor : 16-17

James Suckling : 94-95

Wow. The shows a new level of excellence with mint, mineral and currant character. Full body, super fine tannins and a savory finish. New definition here. Precision. New second wine from this estate moved up the quality.

Andrew Caillard MW : 95

Deep colour. Fresh dark cherry cedar cola aromas. Well-concentrated dark cherry cola chinotto flavours, fine looseknit chalky dry textures and some vanilla elements. Finishes gravelly firm with persistent cassis fruit. Some lovely roasted notes in the background. Very good density, richness and vinosity.

Neal Martin The Wine Advocate : 93-95

28th Apr 2016

The 2015 Batailley is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot cropped at 48 hl/ha picked between 17-30 September. Matured in around 55-60% new oak, it has a very focused, intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and mineral notes, perhaps a little MaRené Gabrielaux-like in style as those violets blossom with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well-judged acidity, a touch of white pepper here lending edginess, gradually building to a very composed and structured finish. This is an excellent Batailley, ameliorated by the introduction of a second wine, that continues the upswing in quality over the last six or seven years. I would not be surprised if this settles at the top of my banded score once in bottle.

Jancis Robinson : 16.5+

17 Oct 2017

Mid crimson. Rather sweet and toasty oaky on the nose. Broad and luscious and easy to like but not as fresh as the finest 2015s. Flattering rather than great.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 92

Mar 31, 2018 – A showy mint note leads off, followed by a flash of ganache before giving way to a core of steeped black currant and fig fruit. A strong charcoal edge through the finish gives this texture and length, while a bay leaf note adds freshness. There’s lots to like in this old-school version.

Jane Anson Decanter

02 Nov 2017

On first nose this hits you with cedary oak. It achieves balance after a few minutes in the glass, as you start to enjoy the rich black fruits and coffee bean aspect to the palate, but the winery seems to be overpowering the vineyard here. This is a modern style 2015 that can be enjoyed earlier than many other Pauillacs in this vintage, and it is often good value too. The first vintage with a second wine, Les Lions de Batailley, which perhaps explains why this feels just a little more supercharged than in previous years.

Markus Del Monego MW : 93

Dark purple red with violet hue and black core. Blackberries and sweet elderberries, blackcurrants, mulberries, vanilla, mild spices. On the palate well structured with expressive fruit, elegant spiciness and excellent length.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 92

May 21, 2018.

Tasty style of Pauillac, with soft tannins, concentration, dark red fruits and a blast of juicy, ripe, cassis, tobacco and very dark chocolate on the palate. This wine has freshness, with traditional Pauillac character.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 93

2/1/2018

Ripe and spicy, this wine comes from an estate on the western edge of Pauillac. Young fruit, toast and fine tannins are combining well into a rich wine that is likely to develop relatively quickly, very much in the style of this property.

Bettane & Desseauve : 17

Jean Marc Quarin : 16,75

La Revue du Vin de France : 17-18

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 17

Julia Harding MW Jancis Robinson : 16,5

19 Oct 2016

Mid crimson. Intense cassis and cherry aroma, fragrant with fresh fruit. Darker and more savoury on the palate, with freshness, finesse and fine-grained tannins. Delicious balance and good length.

James Suckling : 94

13 Feb, 2017

Fantastic aromas of crushed plums and blackberries. Perfumed! Full-bodied and very silky with stone undertones. Best ever?

Steven Spurrier Decanter

1 April, 2015

Finely expressed black fruits with spice on the nose and smoothness on the palate. Satisfyingly Pauillac and very good for the medium term.

Markus Del Monego MW : 92

Dark purple red with violet hue and almost black centre. Opulent nose with distinct toasted flavours, chocolate and coffee, hints of black cherries and plums. On the palate well structured with medium weight and good length, firm tannins and fine fruit in the finish.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 92

A solid example of a classic Pauillac, when the word classic is a good thing. Ripe, juicy, crisp and sweet, fresh cassis, with soft, but stern tannins that demand time in the cellar. A decade of patience will allow the tobacco, cedar and earthy notes to make their presence known, once the wine softens and comes together.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 92-94

4/1/2015

Barrel Sample. This wine has spice and new wood aromas followed by fresh black and red currant flavors. It is bright in acidity, with a strongly mineral texture. It will age well.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16,5

Ample et sérieusement construit, beau caractère pauillacais avec ses notes de havane, longueur et grain de tannin fin.

Jean Marc Quarin : 16,5

La Revue du Vin de France : 18

Yves Beck Beckustator : 95

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 17

Richard Hemming MW Jancis Robinson : 16.5

James Suckling : 91-92

8 Apr, 2014

This is very racy with a pretty purity and length. Full body with minerals and stone. Muscular. 94% cabernet sauvignon with the rest merlot and petit verdot. Very, very impressive from here.

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 16

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5

La Revue du Vin de France : 16,5

Markus Del Monego MW : 91

Dark purple red with violet hue. Well structured nose with expressive character, intense toasted flavours, fresh ground coffee and dark chocolate, opulente fruit in background. On the palate well structured with balanced tannins and convincing length. Hints of aromatic herbs and dark berries in the finish.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 91

3/1/2016

Consultant Denis Dubourdieu has made the most of the difficult vintage, bringing out the fruit and ripe black-currant flavors. This balanced wine will develop attractively and quickly.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator

2016

This has a prominent tobacco leaf note draped over modest bitter cherry and plum fruit. Flickers of iron and cedar emerge on the finish.

Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate : 92

30th Apr 2015

From the famous château estate of the Castéja family, the 2012 Batailley is a very strong effort. This is a big-time sleeper of the vintage. A dense purple wine with loads of crème de cassis, blueberry notes, background forest floor and cedar, this is a strong effort from Batailley and may well usher in a new era for this fifth-growth chateau that is capable of producing great wine. The tannins are sweet and the wine has an opulence and richness that is rare for a Médoc in 2012.

La Revue du Vin de France : 16-17

Matthew Jukes : 17

Richard Hemming MW Jancis Robinson : 17,5

22 Sep 2017 – Serious, complex, mature bordeaux nose where the ripe fruit melds into meat juice, dark chocolate, black cherry and Asian spice. The tannin is absolutely ready to drink now, and it has a soft, easy finish.

James Suckling : 90-91

20 Apr, 2013

A 2012 with a beautiful finish of berry, currants and chocolate. Full-to-medium body, with pretty tannins. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.

Bettane & Desseauve : 17

Floral, généreux, une texture riche mais aussi tendre et soyeuse, tout en finesse, assez long, crémeux, fort réussi pour un millésime intermédiaire.

Natasha Hughes MW Decanter : 95

Linear and precise, with fine-grained chalky tannins, generous oak and complex flavours of dark fruits, leather, bitter chocolate and game. The power and weight of this wine leads straight to a Cru Classé from the Left Bank, and the polish is very Pauillac.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator

Mar 31, 2015

Offers a broad feel, with a cocoa edge carrying the plum and blackberry core, while roasted sandalwood, tobacco and leather accents line the finish. A bit earthy in tone, but shows good flesh and length.

Christer Byklum : 90

Ruby. Dark fruits, plums, blueberries, cassis, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, some spices, somewhat leaner, long.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 91

Tasted Mar 11, 2015.

The blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot produced a wine with cassis, black cherry, earth and a hint of oak on the nose, soft tannins and classic, Cabernet Sauvignon finish. This is showing much better in bottle than it did in barrel, which is always a good sign.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast

 4/1/2013

Barrel sample. Ripe, almost Porty in character, the wine boasts very black fruit that shines through the tannins. The palate has a dry edge to it, revealing dark concentration and a firm aftertaste.

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 17

Jean-Marc Quarin : 15,75

Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate : 91+

30th Apr 2014

An attractive nose of creme de cassis, earth and oak jumps from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. A classic, impressive effort from the Casteja family, this 2011 transcends the vintage character, and is an unqualified success as well as a major sleeper of the vintage. Structured, rich, medium to full-bodied, pure and layered, it should be at its finest in 3-4 years, and keep for two decades.

Julia Harding MW Jancis Robinson : 16.5.

 4 Apr 2012

Darkest cherry crimson. Restrained spicy dark fruit. Sweeter and more chocolatey on the palate, both in flavour and texture. Supple savour from the tannins. Harmonious in a restrained style. Refined tannins. Moreish finish.

James Suckling : Score: 91

 18 Feb, 2014

A dense wine for the vintage with walnut, berry and currant character. Full body with integrated tannins and a refined finish. Very fine indeed. Extremely well crafted for the vintage.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 90-93

Jun 30, 2012

Dark plum, black currant and fig notes are melded together at the core, with ample tobacco and roasted wood spice hints starting to fill in along the edges. There’s lots of signed wood on the finish, but also plenty of flesh and drive.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 94

2/1/2014

This estate continues to rise in quality, and this bottling is a serious and dense wine. It has obvious flavors of wood aging, but balanced with rich blackberry fruitiness. The texture is dark and concentrated. Drink from 2017.

Matthew Jukes : 17,5

The Wine Doctor Chris Kissack : 15,5-16,5

Jean-Marc Quarin : 16,75

La Revue du Vin de France : 16,5

Weingabriel René Gabriel : 17

Le Point Jacques Dupont : 15,5

Neal Martin The Wine Advocate : 95

30th Jun 2017

Tasted at the Batailley vertical tasting the château, the 2010 Batailley may well have been the best wine in a tasting that encompassed three centuries of winemaking at the estate. The nose offers outstanding delineation and mineralité. It positively fizzes in the glass with all that coiled-up energy, ladling out vivid blackberry and cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, but it is the detail and precision that achieves a level that makes the 2010 a benchmark for the Pauillac estate. It sashays towards a tensile, tar and graphite-tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. This is destined for long-term aging insofar that its quality will not be widely appreciated for many years. Tasted April 2016.

Richard Hemming MW Jancis Robinson : 17.5

5 Nov 2014

Highly scented, charred oak aromas at first; then a great deal of satisfying black fruit and clove spice. Extrovert but faithful to the origin. Loads of lingering fruit power.

James Suckling : 94

16 Feb, 2013

Aromas of freshly sliced mushrooms and dark fruits. Full body, with an incredible depth of fruit and finesse here. The tannins are amazing quality. Love the texture. Give it four to five years of bottle age.

Wine Journal Neal Martin : 95

Decanter : 93

14 Jan 2014

Generous black fruits nose. Very rich and concentrated yet not too dense. Fleshy and succulent, with enough acidity to cut the richness and weight of fruit. Good structure and grip. Very ‘claret’, very Pauillac, very good future.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 91

 Mar 31, 2013

This sports suave, mocha-infused toast, showing notes of dark plum, blackberry sauce and steeped fig. The dense, cocoa-coated finish has a smoldering tobacco note in the background. Rustic and slightly chewy in the end, but a bit of cellaring should tame this easily.

Izak Litwar : 94

Tasted in May 2013.

Intense nose of black cherries and blackcurrants, splendid balance, sweetfruit and tannin, powerful on palate, fine complexity and structure, long fruity aftertaste. Splendid effort.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 93

Tasted Mar 12, 2017.

Only a few more years of bottle age has added a lot to this wine. Juicy cassis, blackberry, tobacco, smoke, cedar aromatics pop with no effort. Refined tannins and an elegant, medium.full bodied palate presence, with a bite of cassis in the end note are what you’ll find here.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 94

2/1/2013

With advice from consultant and Bordeaux University professor Denis Dubourdieu, Batailley has improved immensely in the past few years. This 2010 reinforces that trend, revealing a wine that is structured with Cabernet Sauvignon and is attractive with black currant fruitiness. Age for the medium-term.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16

La Revue du Vin de France : 17-18

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5

Jean-Marc Quarin : 16,5-16,75

1000 plateaux Jacques Perrin : 92

The Wine Doctor Chris Kissack : 16-17

Robert Parker The Wine Advocate : 94

23rd Dec 2011

The finest Batailley I have had in many years, the dense purple-colored 2009 exhibits a boatload of tannin as well as sweet, caramelized, black currant fruit intermixed with hints of charcoal, cedarwood and smoke, a full-bodied mouthfeel and the aforementioned high, but sweet, well-integrated tannin displaying no jaggedness. Batailley often requires considerable patience as it can be one of the longest-lived Pauillacs. Atypically for Batailley, the 2009 should be ready to drink in 5-7 years and keep for three decades.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16

Jancis Robinson : 17,5

14 Feb 2019

Tasted blind. Muddy ruby colour. Low-key nose. But very charming, well-balanced palate. Neat and fresh. Not snazzy but very satisfying.

Jane Anson Decanter : 93

25 Feb 2019

This wine showed exceptionally well, both at the the Bordeaux 10 Years On tasting in London a few weeks ago and in the Decanter Premium tasting in New York. It’s great value for this level of Pauillac.

James Suckling : 93

11 Mar, 2019

A rich yet dry Pauillac that’s now very attractive to drink and has a good harmony in spite of the generous alcohol. Long, supple finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 91

Mar 31, 2012

A chewy core of black currant, tobacco and roasted apple wood stretches out through the grip-framed finish. Fresh acidity rides underneath to keep it all lively. A solid version, with a throwback hint.

James Suckling Wine Spectator : 92-95

Jun 30, 2010

Currant and blackberry on the nose, with hints of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins. This is the biggest Batailley in years. Lots of improvement here.

Stuart Pigott : 93

A rich yet dry Pauillac that’s now very attractive to drink and has a good harmony in spite of the generous alcohol. Long, supple finish. Drink or hold.

Jeff Leve Wine Cellar Insider : 92

Tasted May 23, 2012.

From a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and equal parts Cabert Franc and Petit Verdot, this could be one of the best values in Pauillac from the 2009 vintage. Filled with fresh, blackberry, earth, cedar, tobacco and earth, soft tannins, round textures and a rich, delicious, earthy, ripe cassis and spice finish.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 93-95

8/1/2010

Barrel sample. Big, spicy wood, packed with dense, wood and fruit tannins. But the wood is over a base of broad fruit, sweet blackberries and ripeness.

Yves Beck Beckustator : 94

La Revue du Vin de France : 17,5

Weingabriel René Gabriel : 18

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5

Jean-Marc Quarin : 16,5-16,75

1000 plateaux Jacques Perrin : 91-93

Matthew Jukes : 17

Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate : 90-92

29th Apr 2009

The 2008, which was harvested between October 2-15, is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It exhibits Batailley’s well-known tannic profile, but the high level of polyphenols in this vintage equates to sweet tannins and no astringency whatsoever. A deep purple color is followed by sweet aromas of creme de cassis, forest floor, damp earth, licorice, and a subtle hint of wood. Part of the Batailley vineyard is only 800 meters from the St.-Julien border, but this is a classic Pauillac. The 2008 should be drinkable in 4-5 years, and last for 25-30. Proprietor Philippe Casteja built a beautiful new winemaking facility in 2006, and he is now working closely with the famed Professor of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux, Denis Dubourdieu. The resulting wines reveal sweeter tannins without losing the structure, richness, or aging potential this wine typically possesses. The high tannin levels and backward character found in older vintages made the wines nearly unapproachable, but that has all changed.

Julia Harding MW Jancis Robinson : 17

19 Oct 2010

Plenty of cedar and leafiness on the nose, but not at all unripe. Richer on the palate with a fine balance between fruit and structure. Soft, fresh, scented finish.

Bettane & Desseauve : 17

Pauillac très classique, équilibré, avec une parfaite évolution. On peut commencer à l’apprécier.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 90

Nicely firm, with a bold iron streak and lots of cedar embedded into the core of red and black currant fruit and tobacco notes. Focused and long, with a pure beam of fruit driving through the grippy finish.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 91

 Tasted Sep 10, 2017.

Young, as you would expect, the wine is solidly built, with crisp, red, bright, but still juicy, fruits. Medium/full bodied, with hints of secondary nuances starting to pop out, the finish offers classically styled, bright, red berries, pepper and cassis. Give it another 5 years or so.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 91

4/1/2011

One of the undiscovered treats of Pauillac, Batailley has produced a 2008 that shows richness, fresh acidity and delicious black currant fruits. For medium-term aging.

Chris Kissack The Wine Doctor : 16-17+

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 15,5

La Revue du Vin de France : 17

Jean Marc Quarin : 15,75

Matthew Jukes : 17

Neal Martin The Wine Advocate : 90

30th Jun 2017

Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits’ 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 Batailley offers attractive pencil box and cedar scents on the nose, showing more black fruit than the Lynch Moussas, greater sense of purpose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition and pleasant weight in the mouth, focused and classic in style that is typical of this estate, and it finishes with satisfying details and persistence. This has long been a strong, perhaps underappreciated performer of the vintage. It is drinking now but it will continue to give pleasure over 10-15 years. Tasted February 2017.

La Revue du Vin de France : 16-17

Jean Marc Quarin : 16

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 17

Julia Harding MW Jancis Robinson : 16+

9 Nov 2011

Lots of oak on the nose – mocha and spice. Firm, taut and dry. Needs more time and I think it just about has the flesh to keep pace with the resolution of the structure. Chewy, moreish finish. (JH)

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16,5

Bettane & Desseauve : 16

Beau nez de cèdre, corps plein et équilibré, tanin racé, saveur légèrement fumée généreuse et persistante, vin classique, très adroitement vinifié et élevé.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 90

Tasted Aug 23, 2017.

My British friends would call this a perfect example of a luncheon Claret, and they are right. Fully ready to go, the wine is medium bodied, with a tobacco, cedar, dark red fruit and earthy, forest nose. The wine does not offer volume or weight, but its fresh, earthy, soft and with a bright, red, earthy, slightly herbal finish.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 90

4/1/2010

An intense and concentrated wine that succeeds well. It has plenty of freshness, but also sufficient firm tannins to offer aging potential. Wood is prominent, but not dominant, finishing with the freshest of berry fruits.

La Revue du Vin de France : 17

Jean Marc Quarin : 16.25-16.5

Jacques Dupont : 15.5

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 17

Neal Martin The Wine Advocate : 91

30th May 2016

A real sleeper of the vintage and a sensational effort from the Casteja family, Batailley has turned out a complete, powerful, classic Pauillac, with oodles of black currant fruit as well as hints of new saddle leather, toast, chocolate, and forest floor. Full-bodied, dense, and built for the long haul, this wine should be reasonably drinkable in 4-5 years and last for two decades. Good value.

Jancis Robinson : 16.5

17 Feb 2011

Dark crimson. Fresh, light, easy. Proper claret with a real structure. Lots of chew on the end – you’ll have to wait for this!

James Suckling : 93

20 Jan, 2019

This is really fantastic. Look at the nose, offering blackcurrant and berry aromas with wet earth and fresh mushrooms. Full bodied, linear, very tight and racy. Firm and silky. Just coming around now. Drink and enjoy.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 90

Tasted Nov 19, 2013

Firm, tannic, structured and filled with cassis, smoke, earth and tobacco, give this at least another 5 or more years for the tannins to soften.

Roger Voss The Wine Enthusiast : 90

3/1/2009

Batailley 2006 has been mainly about tannin from its earliest stages, and this has not yet changed. What has changed is that the tannin isn’t by itself any more: black plum fruit is now giving some richness. It does need to age, but the elegance and the balance are coming.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16.5

Caractère puissant, épicé, texture serrée pour le millésime, vin strict mais plein, de garde.

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 17,5

Jean Marc Quarin : 16-16.25

La Revue du Vin de France : 17,5

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 18

Neal Martin The Wine Advocate : 93

30th Jun 2017.

Tasted at the Batailley vertical tasting at the château, the 2005 Batailley continues to be an excellent Pauillac that I suspect is overshadowed by some of its more illustrious and, let’s not forget, more expensive neighbors. Here, it has an effervescent bouquet with vibrant red berry fruit and superb mineralité. This is extremely well focused, with hints of rose petal emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with finer tannin than in previous years. I feel there is still some oak to be fully absorbed, so don’t be afraid to cellar this 2005 for another four or five years; but, even at this early stage, you can appreciate its precision on the graphite-infused finish. The 2005 Batailley is where the estate began its upward swing that is continuing to this day. Tasted April 2016.

James Suckling : 91

30 Jun, 2013

Very muscular and powerful with lots of tannins now, but it will come around. Full body and dense. Leave this alone for three or four years.

Jancis Robinson : 17

17 Feb 2011

Generous and ripely fruity on the nose. Dusty and slightly dry on the end. I could do with just a little more zesty fruit on the palate. But it’s solid.

James Suckling Wine Spectator : 90

Mar 31, 2008

Has licorice, currant and fresh cèpe on the nose. Full and silky, with lots of sweet tobacco and berry character and plenty of ripe Cabernet fruit. Long and caressing.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 92

Tasted Jun 27, 2015.

Classic Pauillac, with tannin, structure. freshness, crisp fruit, firm elegance and a blast of cassis, cedar and tobacco. Still young, and seems to be holding some of its cards in reserve. Clearly, this has improved over the past decade and will definitely be more interesting to drink with another 5 years of bottle age.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16.5

Nez et bouche très classiques de Pauillac, corps parfaitement équilibré même s’il n’égale pas en vinosité les tout meilleurs, grand avenir et excellent rapport qualité-prix !

Robert M. Parker, Jr The Wine Advocate : 90

29th Jun 2007 – A sleeper of the vintage, Batailley’s complex 2004 is redolent with notes of cedar wood, spice box, plums, cassis, tar, and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, supple textured, layered, rich, and long, it marks the renaissance of this fifth-growth Pauillac that is displaying strong signs of moving into the big leagues. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2025.

Jean Marc Quarin : 17-17.25

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 16

Roger Voss Wine Enthusiast : 91-93

6/1/2005

The aromas of powerful new wood follow through on this wine with dark tannins and a feeling of brooding power. Acidity gives the wine a lift to finish.

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 17

Richard Hemming MW Jancis Robinson : 17

26 Jan 2011

Quite closed, but wonderful stately weight and great lustrous tannic structure. Excellent.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16

Bien fait, bien vinifié, complet, tanin fin, très bien défini dans son rapport au terroir et à l’appellation.

James Suckling Wine Spectator

Mar 31, 2007

Focused and delicate aromas of currant and black licorice. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long fruit and mineral aftertaste. Always very good quality.

La Revue du Vin de France : 17

Jean-Marc Quarin : 16.5-16.75

Jacques Dupont Le Point : 15.5

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 18

Robert M. Parker, Jr The Wine Advocate : 91

28th Aug 2014

A brilliant success, the fully mature 2003 Batailley exhibits a dense plum/garnet color in addition to a sweet perfume of creme de cassis, licorice, forest floor and spice. Round, generous and medium to full-bodied with good acidity and well-integrated, melted tannins, this 2003 can be enjoyed now and over the next 10+ years.

Jancis Robinson : 17.5

7 Apr 2005

Crimson. Sweet and lively. Bit of zap on the nose. Nice dryness as well as lovely sandy refreshing tannins. Good attack. Fine wine in the classical mould – in fact one of the 2003s that is least obviously 2003.

James Suckling : 92

30 Jun, 2013

Big and round with a velvety texture and fruity, fresh character. Full and delicious now. Why wait?

James Suckling : 93

11 Mar, 2019

A rich yet dry Pauillac that’s now very attractive to drink and has a good harmony in spite of the generous alcohol. Long, supple finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019).

James Suckling Wine Spectator : 90

 Mar 31, 2006

Aromas of blackberry and currant with hints of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish.

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 91

Tasted Jan 23, 2016.

Nice, well priced, medium bodied, ready to drink classy Pauillac with loads of ripe, sweet fruit, tobacco, wet earth and thyme on the nose. There is freshness along with soft, dark red fruits and cassis in the finish.

La Revue du Vin de France : 17

Robert M. Parker, Jr The Wine Advocate

29th Apr 2005

Deep ruby/purple with a relatively evolved bouquet of plums, cherries, and black currants, this wine is classy, with solidly constructed flavors of red and black fruits, moderate tannin, but a slightly abbreviated finish without a great deal of depth.

René Gabriel Weingabriel : 17

Jancis Robinson : 17

2 Nov 2004

Deep crimson. Good, vibrant scent. Lively, classic claret. Very dense and chewy. Should develop well. Very positive.

James Suckling Wine Spectator : 90

Mar 31, 2005

Pretty plum and toasted oak character to this young wine. Medium- to full-bodied, with impressive currants and ripe tannins on the palate. Long. One of the surprises of the vintage.

Bettane & Desseauve : 16

Se goûte très bien en ce moment, ouvert, épicé, élégant, très médocain, mais évitez les plats trop corsés en saveur, idéal sur l’agneau rôti.

La Revue du Vin de France : 16

Neal Martin The Wine Advocate : 91

30th Jun 2017

Tasted at the Batailley vertical tasting at the château, the 2000 Batailley displayed youthful vigor on the nose with boysenberry and damson fruit, incense and iodine. As I remarked when I last tasted this in 2011, there is an opulence here that this estate rarely produced up until this period. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin; this bottle is more backward than others, with firm tannin providing sturdy backbone. It remains a “burly” Pauillac for the vintage, and it is certainly masculine in style. Then again, that is a leitmotif of the millennial vintage. As such, I can envisage this mellowing in four to six year’s time, whereupon it will have the substance to give drinking pleasure over many years. Tasted April 2016.

James Suckling : 92

3 Apr, 2016

So much white truffle and ripe fruit here with meat, cedar and berry character. Full and very rich. Decadent. Delicious now.

James Molesworth Wine Spectator : 92

2016

This has fully entered a second phase, with loads of cedar and alder notes leading the way for dried currant and lightly mulled blackberry fruit flavors. Lovely sanguine and tobacco accents fill in on the finish. A classically refined aged Bordeaux. Blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2015).

Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider : 90

This has a lot of easy to like Pauillac charm with its cedar, cassis, tobacco and earthy profile. Tannic, giving the wine a backbone and the ability to age, but the tannins are not overwhelming, this classic wine is fine to drink now, but another 2-3 years will add more complexity to the wine. Tasted May 8, 2014.

Bettane & Desseauve : 15

La Revue du Vin de France : 16

Yves Beck Beckustator : 92