Château Haut Batailley, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2019
Jean-Charles described 2019 as “Blue Velvet”, a vintage that offers “a beautiful complementarity between fruity Merlots, rich in sugar… and dense, well-structured, very fresh Cabernets”. The 2019 is the most attractive Haut Batailley made under the new regime. It is reminiscent of Xavier Borie wines with its clear, transparent core of cassis and stony minerals, but there is a bit more polish; the fruit is a little more luxuriant and velvety in texture. There’s a great sense of poise and energy: classical, balanced, rather handsome Pauillac that will reward patience. A very smart Haut Batailley. Produced from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, aged in 60% new French oak for 14 months.
critic reviews
The 2019 Haut-Batailley has a very attractive, wonderfully delineated bouquet, with blood orange tincturing the vibrant black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, slightly peppery in style with real depth and longevity on the finish. This is excellent and might well represent the best vintage under "new management."
Still some austerity present here, this has plenty of Pauillac typicity, as in the Verso 2019. Potential for showcasing the beauty of Cabernet in this appellation, with slow burn ageing potential. Gentle balance, and plenty of crayon and creamy blueberry and vanilla bean character. Upright and conetrated in the right way, old school simply because so much of the appellation has moved towards a more muscular frame, this has an elegance to it, if a little soft on the finish. Julien Galland technical director just for the ageing, arriving at the estate in 2020.
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, the 2019 Haut-Batailley is deep garnet-purple in color. It tumbles out with expressive notes of black cherry preserves, stewed black plums, and creme de cassis, leading to hints of graphite, chargrill, and tapenade. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely packed with muscular black fruit and earthy layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with fantastic length.
A fine effort from this cru classe located between Lynch-Bages, Forts de Latour and Pichon Lalande, the 2019 Haut-Batailley offers up aromas of minty berries, loamy soil, violets, cedar and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, succulent palate with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and powdery structuring tannins. This is the second vintage produced by the Cazes family since their acquisition of the chateau in 2017.