2009 Château Batailley
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Tasting notes
Love this wine, I drink it regularly at home, and it always performs excellently in blind tastings, delivering so much of what we love about Pauillac. Ruby red colour, still vibrant, full of silky black fruits, pencil lead and mint leaf, revs up through the mid palate with layers of bilberry, cassis, slate and crushed rocks. You will get longer-lasting Pauillac 2009s, but this is thoroughly enjoyable and built to share. 55% new oak for ageing, Philippe Casteja owner.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Decanter
More reviews and scores
This is one of my secret weapon wines, that I know will make everybody happy when it is served. Signature Pauillac, generous but still with muscular tannins, loaded up with pencil lead, slate, cassis, cedar and mint leaf, with waves of liquorice and rose aromatics that keep you coming back for more. Ready to drink but with life ahead of it.
Earthy, mushroomy, truffley notes on the nose, as well as stewed bramble fruits and a fine vein of leafy character too. Quite understated in terms of its flavour range – perhaps only just reaching its drinking window. (RH)
About the producer
It was on the site of Batailley in 1453 that one of the final battles (or “batailles”) of the Hundred Years’ War took place. Today owned by the Castéja family, the Fifth Growth is renowned for producing wine that is the epitome of classic Claret.