The Castéja family’s Château Batailley has always been a byword for good, honest, well-priced claret. Since the 2015 vintage, the team here has upped the ante with the introduction of a second wine, and there have been all the usual benefits of selection: greater precision, superior concentration and more refined tannins. It has propelled Batailley into a new category, once occupied by the likes of Grand Puy Lacoste and Lynch Bages, yet the prices have remained resolutely sensible.
We feel that Batailley 2019 is a rather compelling proposition – a really smart Pauillac cru classé, with loads of pedigree and character, at less than £30 per bottle in bond. After tasting it last week, we were genuinely impressed. It captures the vintage perfectly. Grown up and serious, brimming with dark berries, lots of aromatic cassis, minerals, gravel and cedar; there's a real structure and precision to the fruit. Although intense, there’s enough flesh on the mid-palate to make this engaging and enjoyable to taste now. It all points to a very successful future. Collectors who tuck a case or two of this away for a decade will be rewarded for their foresight.
Read MoreJames Suckling was equally impressed, awarding 95-96 points. "A very cabernet-driven red with currants, light cedar, vanilla and flowers. It’s full-bodied, tight and powerful. Impressive finish. Classic. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 1% petit verdot". James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
Olivier Bernard has also released his magnificent 2019 Domaine de Chevalier. It is yet another remarkable wine from this consistently high-achieving Chateau. Again, there is an abundance of fruit, lots of complexity and detail, and a freshness to the fruit that makes this extremely moreish. Those taking a ten-year view will not be disappointed.