Chateau Batailley 2019

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is a fine-tannined and racy young wine with blackberry, blackcurrant and light mint aromas that follow through to a full to medium body with long, polished tannins and a persistent finish. A classic and classy young wine. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Drink after 2025."

WEINWISSER: "74 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 % Merlot, 1 % Petit Verdot. Dichtes Purpur, satt in der Mitte. Verführerisches Bouquet mit Veilchen und reifen Brombeeren, dahinter Heidelbeergelee und Nougatpralinen. Am saftigen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur und genial stützender Rasse, dazu stützendes, kakaoartiges Tannin und reifer Extrakt. Im gebündelten Finale zerstossene schwarze Beeren, der Wein ist schlank wie ein Pfeil und wird immer länger, eine volle Ladung Cassis und herrliche Terroirwürze im Rückaroma runden ihn ab. Kein Wunder, dass diese Delikatesse aus Pauillac so eine grosse Fangemeinde hat. Preis-Leistung stimmt hier einfach!"

DECANTER: "Heady and seductive on the nose with touches of graphite, blackcurrant and cherry fruit. This is lovely, you get a sense of understated power, smooth and layered on the palate with wood spice, liquorice, menthol and gravel/wet stone notes and a core of ripe black fruit. Tannins are supportive - supple and softly gripping giving this a structured frame and drive the flavour from start to finish. Still very much taught and knitted together, just beginning to show what it's made of. One to buy and age. Great typicity. Tasted twice. Drinking Window 2027 - 2044"

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2019 Batailley is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing to bring out scents of redcurrant jelly, baked plums, and cassis, plus hints of cedar chest and dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate is fine-grained and lively, with bright, crunchy red and black fruits and an earthy finish."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Fresh, bright, crisp, vibrant and polished, the wine is packed with ripe, sweet, juicy, creme de cassis, blackberries, tobacco leaf, cigar box and leafy herbs. Medium/full-bodied, lifted, vibrant, refined and chewy, the red berry finish builds and lingers with its freshness, spicy, peppery tones and ripe tannins. As good as this is now, if you age it for a few years, it is going to be an even better experience. Drink from 2027-2055."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feiner Edelholztouch, etwas Kirschen und Nougat, ein Hauch von Vanille, reife Brombeeren, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, elegant, feine Fruchtsüße, reife Tannine, frisch strukturiert, mineralisch, schokoladig im Abgang, zeigt gute Länge, sehr gutes Entwicklungspotenzial."

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."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2019 Batailley is performing well from bottle, delivering aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with notions of licorice and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a generous core of fruit, lively acids and plenty of ripe, powdery tannin, this is a chunky, flavorful Pauillac that will develop well in bottle."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2019 Château Batailley is a darker, black-fruited, tobacco, and lead pencil-driven Pauillac that's medium-bodied, has a focused, lively mouthfeel, ripe yet firmer tannins, and integrated acidity. I like its overall balance, and it's certainly a classic Pauillac that will reward 4-6 years of cellaring and have two decades of prime drinking."