The 2009 Haut Batailley has a much tighter and less expressive bouquet than many 2009s at the moment (in fact, you might think this was a 2010 if served blind!). Fortunately it only takes a few swirls to reveal some gorgeous minerally blackberry, bilberry and crushed limestone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a more structured 2009 Pauillac than others, yet beautifully balanced and with plenty of fruit towards the precise finish. This feels like a very polished Haut-Batailleynot in the winery, rather by nature.
The 2009 Haut Batailley has a much tighter and less expressive bouquet than many 2009s at the moment (in fact, you might think this was a 2010 if served blind!). Fortunately it only takes a few swirls to reveal some gorgeous minerally blackberry, bilberry and crushed limestone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a more structured 2009 Pauillac than others, yet beautifully balanced and with plenty of fruit towards the precise finish. This feels like a very polished Haut-Batailleynot in the winery, rather by nature.
The 2008 Haut Batailley is service back to normal after the rather lacklustre 2007. It has a well defined, blackberry, minerally nose that has a sense of brightness and vivacity—a vivid set of aromatics that entice you inwards. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp and focused with great tension and energy. I appreciate the purity embroidered into this wine from start to finish, the manner in which it gently fans out towards the long and precise finish. Excellent for the vintage, this is probably very good value in today's market.
The 2006 Haut Batailley is a wine that I have always appreciated and at ten years of age, I have no reason to change that view. It has a such a lively and vivacious bouquet, especially when compared to the sultrier (if ultimately superior 2005 Haut-Batailley). The palate is underpinned by very fine tannin, the acidity quite noticeable but simply lending freshness and tension. There is a sense of this being a Pauillac that is tightly coiled and there is a lot of energy on the finish. This is a great success for the vintage, but if you can wait another couple of years, it should manifest more intriguing secondary notes and turn into a more interesting Pauillac.
The 2005 Haut Batailley obviously has a more intense bouquet than the 2004 with blackberry, wild hedgerow and cold gravel scents. It is still quite tight, but there is very fine precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe earthy black fruit. It is actually more approachable than I was expecting for a 2005 having loosened its tie in recent years. There is great depth here and fine mineralité, completing what is a classy and sophisticated Pauillac that should repay further bottle age. Chapeau!
The 2015 Haut Batailley is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot, matured in 60% new oak. It was picked between 21 September until 2 October. It is a level up from the 2015 Lacoste Borie with much more fruit intensity: blackberry, boysenberry, tobacco and cedar aromas. It gathers momentum in the glass and develops a subtle mint accent. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, lithe tannin, very well balanced with just a slight tinniness that will disappear by the time in bottle. I love the pencil shaving sprinkled over the aftertaste here. With very good substance and impressive length, this is a classic Pauillac that I suspect will offer 25 or 30 years of pleasure.
The 2012 Haut Batailley has a superior bouquet to the 2011, with more complexity and mineralité, crushed stone intermingling with copious black fruit all with exquisite delineation and focus. There is a strictness here, perhaps borrowed from its half-brother, Grand Puy-Lacoste. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition and focus. There is still some oak to be absorbed but there is plenty of substance on the stylish, sweet finish that is very seductive. This is an excellent wine from François-Xavier Borie, dare I say up there with the 2009 and 2010. It comes highly recommended.
The 2010 Haut Batailley is beginning to reach the potential I enthused about when I first tasted this from barrel. Much like the 2009 Haut-Batailley, it has a very expressive bouquet that needs a lot of coaxing from the glass. And like many 2010s it is a broody bugger, stubborn and obdurate but when you get to the palate...this is where the action is! This is where the quality positively shines through with very fine tannin: extremely pure fruit, a judicious touch of spice and a long and tender finish that is seamless. It needs 8-10 years for those aromatics to open but judging by the quality of the palate, it will be worth the wait.
The 1988 Haut-Batailley is a lightweight, lean, closed, hard-edged wine that lacks charm and finesse. The tannin level appears excessive for the fruit component.
- Robert M. Parker, Jr
Château Haut Batailley is a renowned producer of fine wines located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a history dating back to the 15th century, the estate has been owned by the de Batailley family, Daniel Guestier, and now the Cazes family, who also own the nearby Château Lynch-Bages. The 22 hectares of vineyards are planted with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and are situated on a gravelly plateau, providing excellent drainage and allowing the vines to produce grapes of exceptional quality.
The wines of Château Haut Batailley are known for their elegance, balance, and complexity. They are made using traditional winemaking techniques, including hand harvesting, fermentation in oak vats, and aging in French oak barrels. The flagship wine of Château Haut Batailley is the Grand Vin, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. It is rich and full-bodied, with aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco, and a complex, well-structured palate with firm tannins and a long, lingering finish. The estate also produces a second wine, La Parde de Haut Batailley, which is made from younger vines and is aged for a shorter period of time than the Grand Vin, resulting in a more approachable wine with softer tannins and a fruitier character.
Château Haut Batailley is a producer of exceptional wines that are highly sought after by wine lovers around the world. Their wines are a testament to the rich history and winemaking traditions of the Pauillac appellation, and are sure to impress even the most discerning of palates.
