Chateau Haut Batailley Pauillac Grand Cru 2019
(Bordeaux, France) - [TWI 96] [JD 95] [JS 95] [VM 94] [WE 94][WA 93] [WS 93] [DM 93]

About the Winery:
Ch Haut Batailley is a 5eme Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux (separate from Ch Batailley – while these two wineries had a common origin, the estates were divided in 1942 to avoid inheritance issues; Haut-Batailley is the smaller estate, with vineyards adjacent to Latour and Pichon-Lalande). It was purchased in 2017 by the Cazes family, who also own Ch Lynch-Bages.

About this Wine:
Soil: Garonne Gravel
Harvest: Hand-picked and sorted at the vineyard
Ageing: French oak barrels for 16 months (60% new wood)
Blend:  76%Cabernet Sauvignon, 24%Merlot

Winemaker's Tasting Notes:
The garnet red colour and dense, astonishingly brilliant ruby hues already augur a beautiful tasting. Against a black fruit, it offers an intense nose sustained by fresh notes that seem characteristic of this 2019 vintage. Great balance on the palate, which is both concentrated and silky. The grapes were clearly harvested at full maturity, giving Haut-Batailley 2019 remarkable tannic presence and roundness, with the elegant style that is the signature of the property.

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - The Wine Independent:
"A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, the 2019 Haut-Batailley is deep garnet-purple in color. It tumbles out with expressive notes of black cherry preserves, stewed black plums, and creme de cassis, leading to hints of graphite, chargrill, and tapenade. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely packed with muscular black fruit and earthy layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with fantastic length." – LPB (May 2023)

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Slightly darker fruited and denser than the more ethereally styled 2018, the 2019 Château Haut-Batailley offers up a gorgeous array of red and black currants, black raspberries, tobacco, and flowers, with more classic lead pencil and tobacco notes emerging with time in the glass. Balanced, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, it has ripe, supple tannins, terrific mid-palate density, and a great finish. The quality continues to soar at this estate under the helm of the Cazes family and this is a gem of a Pauillac well worth seeking out. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following two decades." (Apr 2022)

95 Points - James Suckling:
"This is linear and tight with blue fruit and fine tannins. Some graphite and lead pencil, too. Medium to full body with very Pauillac sensibility. Delicate, yet structured. Restrained. Needs time to open. 76% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2026." (Jan 2022)

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2019 Haut-Batailley has a very attractive, wonderfully delineated bouquet, with blood orange tincturing the vibrant black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, slightly peppery in style with real depth and longevity on the finish. This is excellent and might well represent the best vintage under "new management."" – Neal Martin (Feb 2024)

94 Points & Editor's Choice - Wine Enthusiast:
"How this estate has improved since it came under the control of the Cazes family of Lynch-Bages. The new release has power and structure. At the same time, it brings out ripe jammy fruits that feed into the wine's texture. This is developing well. Drink from 2026. – Roger Voss (Oct 2022)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"A fine effort from this cru classé located between Lynch-Bages, Forts de Latour and Pichon Lalande, the 2019 Haut-Batailley offers up aromas of minty berries, loamy soil, violets, cedar and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, succulent palate with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and powdery structuring tannins. This is the second vintage produced by the Cazes family since their acquisition of the château in 2017." – William Kelley (Apr 2022)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Offers red and black currant, plum and blackberry preserve flavors that are both lush and brambly in feel, a contrast that plays out on a finish in which a bolt of cast iron and a twinge of warm earth check in. Features a lovely savory/cedar echo at the very end, giving it a slight throwback feel. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2038." – JM (Mar 2022)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Expressive nose and excellent clarity on the palate, I like the fruit flavour that pushes through with impactful tannins. This isn't a showstopper but so poised and persistent with an appealing overall mouthfeel and delivery of ripe fruit, cool menthol edges and long length. A satisfying wine with expressive Pauillac characters. Refined and charming. You could drink this now but also will age extremely well." – Georgina Hindle (Jan 2022)