Château Batailley
It is not often the words "Pauillac" and "good value" are found in the same sentence, but this can certainly be said about the Fifth Cru Classé, Château Batailley. With roots dating as far back as the 1400s, Château Batailley took its name from the word “bataille” (meaning battle), in memory of a battle in 1453 where French troops succeeded in re-capturing Château Latour from the English. Eventually acquired by famed Bordeaux négociant Daniel Guestier in 1816, who aggressively increased Batailley’s acreage with more plots adjacent to Lynch Bages and Grand Puy Lacoste, Château Batailley’s reputation climbed steadily and after changing hands a few times, had part of the estate branching off as Château Haut Batailley.
Today, Château Batailley owns 60 hectares of vines planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot making up the remaining. Vines are, on average, 40 years of age and grow on soils consisting of gravel, clay and sand with a maximum elevation of 27 metres.
One of the most reliable wines from the Left Bank, Château Batailley is a wine to turn to for a classic taste of Bordeaux at a non-stratospheric price.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 1 | 91+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£542.47 |
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Wine Advocate (91+)The 2014 Batailley has an attractive bouquet, lilting scents of redcurrant and raspberry coulis, quite floral and very precise. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, good depth and body, rounded for Batailley and less austere than usual. It feels closed towards the finish, tight-lipped, but there is certainly grip and presence here. It will require several years in bottle before it can show its true potential, but there is a sense of class to this Batailley that I suspect will become more evident with maturity. Tasted twice with consistent notes. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 89 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£284.69 |
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Wine Advocate (89)The 2014 Lions de Batailley was the first vintage albeit one produced in a small quantity as a test, according to proprietor Philippe Castèja. It has an attractive bouquet with dense blackberry, crushed strawberry, bay leaf and cedar scents that unfold nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, grippy in the mouth with good density and freshness on the graphite-tinged finish. Frankly, it is as good as some of the Grand Vins from the 1990s. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 91+ (WA) |
In Bond
£420.00 |
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Wine Advocate (91+)The 2014 Batailley has an attractive bouquet, lilting scents of redcurrant and raspberry coulis, quite floral and very precise. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, good depth and body, rounded for Batailley and less austere than usual. It feels closed towards the finish, tight-lipped, but there is certainly grip and presence here. It will require several years in bottle before it can show its true potential, but there is a sense of class to this Batailley that I suspect will become more evident with maturity. Tasted twice with consistent notes. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 89 (WA) |
In Bond
£218.00 |
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Wine Advocate (89)The 2014 Lions de Batailley was the first vintage albeit one produced in a small quantity as a test, according to proprietor Philippe Castèja. It has an attractive bouquet with dense blackberry, crushed strawberry, bay leaf and cedar scents that unfold nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, grippy in the mouth with good density and freshness on the graphite-tinged finish. Frankly, it is as good as some of the Grand Vins from the 1990s. |