CHATEAU HAUT-BATAILLEY 5eme Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 2017 Bottle

Description

Château Haut-Batailley, a distinguished Fifth Growth (Cinquième Grand Cru Classé) in Pauillac, entered an exciting new era with the 2017 vintage, marking its first release under the ownership of the esteemed Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages. Benefiting from their extensive expertise, this vintage beautifully captures the estate’s signature charm, balancing Pauillac’s traditional power with a remarkably graceful elegance. Comprising a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the 2017 showcases the resilience and supreme quality of the appellation's deep gravel terroirs.

In the glass, the wine exhibits a deep, brilliant ruby colour. The bouquet is expressive and refined, offering an enticing melange of fresh cassis, dark cherries, and wild bramble, layered with quintessential Pauillac nuances of cedarwood, crushed graphite, and subtle damp earth.

On the palate, it is medium-bodied and impeccably balanced, featuring a beautifully polished texture. Fine, tightly knit tannins provide a classic structural backbone without overwhelming the vibrant core of dark fruit. A bright line of acidity lifts the profile, driving toward a fresh, lingering finish laced with hints of dark chocolate and tobacco. Approachable now yet built to age, this refined claret pairs wonderfully with roasted rib of beef or lamb cutlets.

JAMES SUCKLING 93 points
Lovely perfumes and currants with graphite and light herbs. Medium to full body. Creamy tannins. Soft and elegant and creamy at the end. Finesse. A blend of 66% cabernet sauvignon and 34% merlot. Drink in 2022.

DECANTER 93 points
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2039
Rich and fresh aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant leaf and mineral undertones with hints of forest floor. Silky on the palate, nicely rounded and structured.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 92 points
Drink Date: 2021 - 2037
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Haut Batailley sings of baked blackberries, black cherry compote and warm cassis with hints of fungi and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with black fruit flavors and loads of earthy accents, framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing savory.

VINOUS 92 points
Drinking window: 2024 - 2040
The 2017 Haut-Batailley is drinking well at the moment. Displaying quite irresistible raspberry and wild strawberry fruit on the nose, this is well-defined with touches of white pepper and cedar emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple opening, hints of meat juices infusing the red fruit as it moves into its secondary phase, but there is plenty of depth and vigor on the finish to suggest that it will give pleasure for many years.