Chateau Batailley Pauillac Grand Cru 2016
(Pauillac, France) 750mL - [JS 96] [TWI 94+] [WA 93-95] [VM 93+] [WS 93] [DM 93]

About the Winery:
Château Batailley, a 5th Growth Pauillac of the famed 1855 Classification, is Borie-Manoux’s flagship property. The name is derived from the battle (bataille) that took place during the Hundred Years’ War around 1453, designating where the château and vineyard are today. In this battle, the French reconquered the neighboring Château Latour from the English, a crucial point for ending the 300-year-long reign of the English in Aquitaine. The first record of vines planted on these historical grounds dates back to the 16th century. Château Batailley’s 12-acre (5-hectare) gardens were originally designed by Barillet-Deschamps, Napoleon III’s landscape architect, in 1850.

About this Wine:
The name is derived from the battle (“bataille”) that took place where the château and vineyard are today during the Hundred Years’ War, around 1453. In this battle, the French re-conquered the neighboring Château Latour from the English, a crucial point for ending the 300 year long reign of the English in Aquitaine. The vineyards spread out over 57 hectares with the average vine age being 40 years old. The soil is silica and gravel, but the heart of the vineyard is on a deep gravel bed over a subsoil of clay and sandstone. There are also some parcels located in between Château Latour and Pichon Lalande. After a brief cold soak and the use of selected yeasts, the must is fermented in stainless steel vats, with a very traditional vinification.

Tasting Notes:
Batailley is a classic and very typical Pauillac, with cassis and currant flavors and a very firm structure. Dark ruby/purple in appearance Chateau Batailley strikes the nose with classic aromas of red and black currant along with cedar and earth. The wine is full-bodied on the palate with wonderful spice and structure. 

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Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - James Suckling:
"Shows beautiful, ripe cabernet aromas with currants, plums, meat and smoke. Flowers, too. Full body, deep and ripe fruit and exquisite, ripe tannins. Flavorful finish. Tight right now, but shows excellent potential. Best ever. Try after 2024." (Jan 2019)

94+ Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2016 Batailley is deep garnet colored. It rolls up with gregarious blackcurrant jelly, plum preserves, and cedar chest scents, plus touches of violets, dark chocolate, and graphite. The light to medium-bodied palate is bright, breezy, and refreshing, delivery crunchy, youthful fruit and a firm grainy frame, finishing on a lingering mineral note." - LPB (Dec 2022)

93-95 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2016 Batailley is a blend of 12% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 85% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 50h hectoliters per hectare. Matured in 60% new oak. It has an intense graphite infused bouquet with fine delineation, some freshly picked Pauillac mint coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin that grip the mouth insistently; with graphite and tobacco-infused black fruit dominating, this a classically styled Batailley in the vein of previous vintages with the elegance coming through towards the finish. This is one of those wines that grows on you, perhaps not as easy or as charming to taste as other Pauillac 2016s at this stage, but knowing this property well, I know how it can blossom when it matters, which is when you and I drink it." - Neal Martin (Apr 2017)

93+ Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2016 Batailley has an attractive, meaty bouquet with more red fruit than black, unlike many of its peers. With aeration it appears to gain more floral notes and lift. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, linear and focused, offering pencil lead, cedar and light spicy notes toward the conservative, controlled finish. A mocha-tinged aftertaste emanates from the oak. Good potential, but it needs time." - Neal Martin (Aug 2020)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This is a bit subtle and old-school in approach, with singed juniper and alder elements out front followed by perfumy, lightly mulled currant and cherry fruit flavors. The wood notes reemerge through the finish along with savory and sanguine threads. Will age well; for fans of the style. Best from 2024 through 2038." - JM (Mar 2019)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A tunnel of tannins takes you right through the palate, but it is not fully walled in as with 2010, rather the tannins are pliable and the overall feeling is of well controlled fruit that deepens as you go along. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 12% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, and a pH of 3.6. Wonderfully deep fruit flavours of blackberry and crushed cassis reside against black chocolate and well contained tannins. A lovely vintage that has power but is just the right side of big extraction. Good persistency with a coffee-scented finish. This is a buy, for sure." - Jane Anson (Apr 2017)