Château Batailley, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac

Château Batailley 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac 2014

A complex and elegant Bordeaux showing classic cigar box and cedar notes preluding an opulent palate with nuances of chocolate and savoury roast meat, long, fine and sustained.

Producer Note

The vineyards of Batailley today comprise about 60 hectares, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. Batailley is the flagship of the family Castéja and BorieManoux. The name is derived from a battle fought on this territory during the 100- years war in the 14th century. Batailley’s wine is an intensive Pauillac typically with blackcurrant and a robust body. The wine continues to obtain very high rankings and recommendations from the international wine press. Vintage A cool, damp summer nearly hampered the 2014 vintage; fortunately an unusually warm and dry Indian summer rescued the vintage. The fruit was harvested in good health and resulted in aromatic wines with supple tannins.

Vineyard

Château Batailley is one of the oldest Estates in Pauillac. Its name goes back to the last battle of the Hundred Years’ war in Medoc, which took place on the plateau that descends to Château Latour. The house, which was remodelled in the XVIIIth century, is surrounded by a beautiful park of six hectares, designed by the famous Barillet Deschamps. The area under vine is 58 hectares and the average age of the vines is 40 years. The vineyard faces the Château on a beautiful gravel plateau. This great soil of thin gravel has natural drainage, which makes it perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The vines are pruned according to the double Guyot method and the vines are cultivated according to sustainable viticulture with reduced spraying, de leafing, cropping thinning and a strict control of yields on a plot by plat basis.

Wine making

The grapes were hand-harvested with great care and vinified for four weeks in stainless steel vats under temperature controlled conditions. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 60% of which were new, for a period of 18 months, before being bottled at the Château.

Tasting Note

A beautifully smooth and elegant wine showing classic notes of cedar, sweet blackcurrant, raspberry coulis and fruitcake with smoky nuances of tobacco and liquorice. Abundant sweet tannins and a good full-bodied structure surround the depth and complexity of flavours through to a long, harmonious finish.

Grape

Cabernet Sauvignon 82%, Merlot 15%, Petit Verdot 2%, Cabernet Franc 1%