Château Haut-Batailley Pauillac 2018 - 5ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The Cazes family is now the owner of this cru, a division of Château Batailley. The vines can be spotted by the picturesque Aspic tower in the middle of the vineyard and the wine-red color of the winery. The wine produced an elegant, relatively supple Pauillac during the Borie period, and seems to have gained in body and intensity without losing any of its finesse.

Decanter

About the wine:

A full-bodied, muscular wine. It has a classic Pauillac signature with the full range of pencil lead, cigar box, wood smoke and floral aromas. It is of very good quality, sappy and juicy, with good ageing potential. It has integrated well with aging. 2026 - 2038

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Well-crafted, this wine presents itself with elegance and intensity in a deep red color, and unfurls a fresh, fruity, spicy and chocolaty bouquet. This aromatic expression continues on the full, warm and powerful palate, supported by firm, tight tannins and a welcome hint of freshness on the finish. 2025 - 2032

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

A new history is about to be written for this cru, which had long been run on a tenant basis by François-Xavier Borie (Grand-Puy-Lacoste), and was sold to the Cazes family in 2017. The technical facilities are up to date, and the quality of the wines is consistent. We'll have to follow its stylistic evolution in the vintages to come, but we have no concerns about the new owners' ability to take it even further.

Wine Spectator

About the wine:

Juicy, fresh and nicely compact, with well-tempered plum and blackcurrant aromas. Subtle notes of savory, tobacco and cedar come through on the finish, with a final, fragrant, lingering whiff of black tea. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 to 2038.

James Suckling

About the wine:

I can't remember a Haut-Batailley as tannic, yet the tannins are tasty and very ripe, with great beauty and purity. The wine is full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, intense finish.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, fresh, beautifully racy and offers a certain intensity. Notes of bright black cherry, bright blackberry and, to a lesser extent, blueberry are combined with hints of raspberry, blond tobacco, licorice, blue berries, fine hints of star anise and a very discreet touch of pepper. The palate is fruity, mineral, nicely balanced and elegant, offering freshness, definition, finesse and an almost ethereal approach. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy/pulpy blackberry, pulpy blackcurrant and, more lightly, blue berries, combined with hints of raspberry, pulpy plum and violet, as well as hints of tobacco, nutmeg, a subtle touch of cardamom, iodine and a very discreet hint of pepper. Elegant, well-managed tannins. Good length. A very discreet hint of caramelization on the finish/persistence.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Dark, big and bold, with crisp layers of Cabernet Sauvignon. There's also bitter chocolate, espresso, cigar wrapper and herbs. Full-bodied, tannic and concentrated, the wine is rich, juicy, chewy and long. The finish offers ample waves of sweet and tart red berries, cocoa, peppery spices and herbs. The wine is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot.