CHATEAU BATAILLEY 5eme Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 2018 Bottle

Description

Château Batailley 2018 is an exceptional Bordeaux from Pauillac, mainly composed of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. It has earned high praise, receiving 95 points from James Suckling and 94 points from Wine Enthusiast. This vintage offers enticing aromas of blackberry, cocoa, oyster shell, and graphite, with hints of black tea. It is medium to full-bodied, featuring firm, tight-grained tannins that create a structured mouthfeel. With a concentration of black fruits and solid tannins, it shows great aging potential. The Wine Advocate rated it 92-94 points for its juicy fruit core, while Vinous awarded 93 points for its fine delineation. Best enjoyed between 2026 and 2035, it promises a classic Pauillac experience.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 95 Points
14 Jan, 2021 – Aromas of blackberry, cocoa, oyster shell, graphite and black tea. Lead pencil, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Structured and intense. Tight and precise. Needs a few years to soften and open. Try from 2025.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 94 points
This estate at the western edge of Pauillac is beginning to show its potential. Powerful and dense, this wine offers concentrated black fruits and tannins that are solid and dry. The wine has a firm character, full bodied and with a long-term future. Drink from 2026. — Roger Voss

THE WINE ADVOCATE (92-94) points
The 2018 Batailley is deep garnet-purple in color and offers up bright Morello cherries, black raspberries and redcurrant notes over a cassis and plum preserves core with a waft of dried mint. Full-bodied with a good core of juicy fruit, it has approachable, ripe tannins and a lively lift to the finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

VINOUS 93 points
Batailley
The 2018 Batailley, matured in 60% new oak, is almost identical on the nose as I found it in barrel, decked out with attractive black cherries and cassis notes, the cedar element a little heightened and freshly rolled tobacco notes developing with aeration. Very fine delineation here, and the oak is well integrated. The balanced palate offers fine tannins that frame the blackberry and bilberry fruit. The salinity comes through nicely on the finish, which is less silky than before, but it waves adieu with a long spicy aftertaste. Very fine and very Batailley. - Neal Martin

JANCIS ROBINSON 16.5 points
Tasted blind. Winning richness on the nose. Neat and well constructed even though in a minor key. Lots of acidity and tannin with only just enough fruit. A little drying on the end. (JR)