Château Haut Batailley, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2008
Again, Xavier Borie has waved his magic wand over the barrels at Haut Batailley. This perennial overachiever hits all the right notes in 2008. Good liquid mineral nose. Very classic notes of cassis, pencil shavings and flowers. This has ample concentration; it is fresh, sophisticated Claret with complex notes of licorice, cherry liqueur and berry fruit. The 2008 is a real triumph - exceptionally well made with surprising length of flavours.
critic reviews
The 2008 Haut-Batailley has a modest nose: brambly red berry fruit, cedar, a little loose-knit and needing more complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with lighter tannins than I was expecting, a mixture of red and black fruit but missing that tension and mineralité towards the finish. Good, but surpassed by the 2009 and 2010. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)