Chateau Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 2023

You want to know what Pauillac tastes like, roll up and enjoy this vintage of Batailley. Squid ink, slate, cassis, bilberry, slate, crayon, black chocolate, plenty of tannic grip, a smudge of grilled cedar oak and a squeeze of mint, it's all here. 57% new oak for ageing. Harvest September 12 through to October 5.

Drink 2032 - 2048

An exceptional Batailley this year. Cool blue fruits and a graphite nose, salinity and minerality coming from the aromatics. Energy, focus and precision here - it’s straight and linear, the plumpness has gone into Lion but this is focused and direct, really streamlined with precise edges to the tannins and cool blue and bramble hedgerow fruit. It’s quite a serious take, but it has a juicy, almost sweet core of blackcurrant and cherry, with a slate finish. Well constructed, precise, finessed - totally classic. You cannot go wrong with this and for the price it’s insanely good.

Drink 2028 - 2050

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.

Beautiful fruit with currants and blackberries, as well as notes of walnuts and chocolate. So much blackberry fruit here. Aromatic. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine tannins on the deep and structured palate. Racy and long finish.

The 2023 Batailley is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs some swirling to coax out notes of blackcurrant jelly, plum preserves, and raspberry leaves followed by hints of rosebud tea, fertile loam, iron ore, and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is tight-knit and refreshing, with firm fine-grained tannins and beautiful tension supporting the energetic black berry flavors, finishing long and savory.

The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot.

Drink 2028 - 2042

The 2023 Batailley was picked September 12 to October 5 at around 49hL/ha, matured in 57% new oak. It has an elegant and understated bouquet compared to the previous vintage, as with all châteaux, well-defined, with a light estuarine influence emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It’s very bright and fresh and there’s plenty of fruit here. A deft, harmonious finish lingers in the mouth. This is an excellent Batailley.

Drink 2028 - 2052

The 2023 Batailley is an ample, large-scaled Pauillac. Even so, I find it quite restrained and not particularly expressive at this stage. There's good vibrancy to the red-toned fruit. Hopefully élevage will do the trick here.

Drink 2028 - 2048

Deep ruby/plum-hued, the 2023 Château Batailley offers a spicy, red and black-fruited, lead pencil-driven perfume to go with medium-bodied richness and depth on the palate. It's nicely balanced, has some of the firmer tannins of the vintage, and has good length. It should be an outstanding wine when all is said and done.