2005 Ch. Batailley, Pauillac

Consistently one of our (and our customers') favourite château this wine is really sleek and elegant in 2005. Everything is there in spades: body, texture and fruit concentration. This is a classic Batailley in every sense of the word and represents another huge leap forward for the property. Increasingly this feels like a 5th Growth performing at the level of a 2nd or 3rd Growth. Very ripe Cabernet Sauvignon predominates, with beautifully ripe tannins, cassis and a spicy edge. This is sure to be one of THE bargains of the vintage.

Renowned Bordeaux oenologist, Denis Dubourdiu, oversees the winemaking at all of the properties owned by Philippe Casteja, which includes Batailley. Their 2005, one of the finest efforts this estate has yet produced, is backward, tannic, and almost primordial in style. Built for the long-term, it offers plenty of sweet creme de cassis fruit intermixed with smoke, cedar, and earth notes. Full-bodied and powerful, it is an old style Pauillac with well-integrated acidity as well as sweet but elevated tannins. Give it 7-8 years of bottle age, and drink it between 2015-2035.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - 30-Apr-2008)