2023, Château Haut-Batailley, PAUILLAC, 5ème Grand Cru Classé

Last Year EP $94.00-

Historically a part of Batailley until the property was split in two in the 1940s. Until recently this 5th growth 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. The vines are extremely well situated, bordering those of Lynch Bages, Les Forts de Latour and Pichon Lalande.
The 2023 is made from 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot.

The 2023 Haut-Batailley is another impressive wine from this Chateau. There's plenty of the typical dark fruit and overall breadth that is such a signature, but the tannins show greater finesse than in some prior years—a very positive evolution that continues here. Black cherry, plum, lavender, cloves, leather and licorice are all beautifully amplified. The 2023 marks another major step forward for Haut-Batailley. 2028 - 2043.
93-96 Antonio Galloni.

This shows structure and focus, with creamy, powdery tannins and a very pretty, silky texture. Medium to full body with a solid line of tannins running through the wine. Blackberries and currants with a hint of crushed stone. Better than 2022?
94-95 James Suckling.

Delivering elegance and finesse, this showcases why Haut-Batailley is so different in personality from Lynch Bages in this stable of wines, with a fragrant violet and peony note that takes it almost into St Julien, while slowly building the tannins that root it in Pauillac. Smoke, campfire and slate mix with blackberry and bilberry fruits. 65% new oak for ageing.
94 Jane Anson.

The 2023 Haut Batailley has a harmonious and focused bouquet with blackberry, graphite and iris flower scents. The oak here is neatly integrated. It's actually stylistically not dissimilar to the Mouton Rothschild! The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins—quite rounded in the mouth, but there is backbone here. A subtle white pepper note mixes with pencil shavings on the classically styled finish, completing this refined Pauillac.
91-93 Neal Martin.