Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon

The 1975 Batailley is a vintage poured at a vertical at the Pauillac estate with Frédéric Castèja a few months earlier, but perversely, this bottle shows better. There’s a strong marine influence on the nose, and kelp and crustacea intertwine with slightly rustic but attractive black fruit, austere, compared to recent vintages, albeit typical of that period for Batailley. The palate is gentle, perhaps a little angular, though this bottle exhibited a touch more black fruit on the finish to counterbalance its obdurate tannins, a trope of the 1975 Left Banks. The aforementioned vertical will appear this year. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2024)

1989 vintage. Batailley has been a reliable Pauillac for a very longtime. The level of this bottle was very good, but the cork fell in the bottle as soon as I touched it. Therefore I took the risk to decant it immediately, and that turned out to be a great idea. Upon opening the nose seemed very volatile, but after a few hours in the decanter it started to shine, suggesting that it could age even longer. Bought this bottle on ebay for 43 euros, which is a steal for this impeccably balanced Pauillac at its peak. Abv. 13%.

Lovely nose. Great aroma. Lovely tobacco, really nuanced. Very complex. Big and rich, not much wood. very bright. Wow. Long. Sappy and wonderful.

nose starts plummy and earthy, then blossoms with violets, followed by cassis, tobacco and classic Pauillac pencil ~ palate starts with tart dark berry fruit, fresh and then like candied Nerds leading to a powdery tannin finish

The 2019 Batailley has a well-defined bouquet with tobacco and light cedar scents, blackberry and briary developing more intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite elegant and refined, not the most intense Pauillac but beautifully proportioned with a sleek and quite persistent finish. Lovely. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023)

The 2012 Batailley has plenty of fruit on the nose: blackberry, raspberry, a touch of shoe leather and sage. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight bitterness on the entry, nicely balanced though, cedar and tobacco infusing the black fruit with a touch more fruit on the finish compared to Haut-Batailley. It just needs more time in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)

The 1982 Batailley is a vintage that has never quite met my expectations. Now at almost four decades old, I find that the aromatics lack the fruité of its peers, also compared to the superior 1989. Earthy, dried leaves and light smoky aromas gently waft from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannins and vestiges of red fruit, a little sour now, but it fades a little towards the peppery finish. This used to be knitted together, but now it feels a little frayed at the seams. Tasted at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)

Very good, full bodied and elegant. Cigar box, black cherry, cassis, leather, forest floor, subtle minerality. Very well balanced - young but drinking very well

Enjoyed on Christmas Day (2021) so no chance for notes, but this was really impressive and a treat as it’s not often I drink Pauillac (frankly, I couldn’t afford to). I have to say this ranks among the finest 2009s I’ve tried, and, tasting better even two days later, it should continue to age exceptionally well.

Earth driven - wet soil and cut dried potpourri flowers - integrated spice box and tobacco. Just lovely.