Château Batailley 2021

A textbook Pauillac nose. Light-footed palate, delicate fruit, precise tannin, wonderfully elegant and fresh. It doesn’t have the structure or length of the magnificent 2019s and 2020s, but it impresses with finesse.

Perfumed, floral, heady nose. Lightly framed in terms of texture, but with a really intense and concentrated core of sweet red and black fruit flavours, with cocoa powder and liquorice that go vertical as well as horizontal, filling the palate with aromas as opposed to direct weight from the tannins. Feels like a delicate and pared-back style for this estate, carefully presenting the vintage in the glass with harmony and balance. Juicy and flavourful, it will be even better after ageing. Tasted twice. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

What a pretty nose. Perfumes of light cedar, sandalwood, chocolate and blackcurrants follow through to a medium body with fine and polished tannins that have length and beauty. Classy for the vintage. Drinkable now but better in two or three years.

Cask sample. Fresh and simple on the nose; dark and red fruit with a slight herbaceous note. Supple and loose-limbed on the palate with light but fine tannins. Lacks a bit of clout but attractive fruit and everything is in balance. (JL)

The 2021 Batailley almost revels in a cooler, challenging vintage like this. It has a well-defined, clean, fresh, classically styled bouquet, with a pencil-shaving-infused black fruit aromatic profile that could only come from Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, very harmonious with white pepper and sage, gently building in the mouth toward a cohesive, long, graphite-tinged finish. This is a Batailley that feels comfortable in its own skin. I suspect it has 25–30 years of drinking pleasure to give.

Flowers, spice, espresso, black currants, black cherries and smoke pop in the nose. The palate is soft, polished, fresh and approachable. The fruits are sweet, creamy and long, with a refreshing mint and chocolate note that finds its way into the back of the finish. There is a lot of charm as well as freshness here. The wine blends 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2050.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle ochre rim. An inviting bouquet with notes of wild berry confit, fresh plums, hints of blackberry and a pleasant oak savouriness. Full-bodied with good complexity, subtle fruit expression, ripe tannins and a touch of nougat. Developing nicely and already approachable, good length and definite ageing potential. (8/1/2024, drink/ store + 25)

Le Batailley 2021 has gained body and flesh through barrel maturation. What still seemed slender during the en primeur tastings is now noticeably fuller. Bright dark color and a dark-fruited, rich nose, very intense and full, featuring a ripe, generous fruit component, yet it shows great freshness with liqueur-like overtones at the same time. A very forward, appealing aromatic profile with true Pauillac character. Very penetrating, dense, and clear, with a full-bodied, meaty mid-palate and excellent breed. It remains always juicy, with a broad, expansive tannin structure. Long, fresh, and endlessly juicy on the finish, Le Batailley 2021 promises a great drinking experience that will stay fresh for a long time.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot) Velvety, fruity, finely creamy bouquet, cassis, black cherries, licorice, currants, eucalyptus. Creamy, dense, full palate with dark, sweet fruit, fine tannins, creamy structure, multifaceted, sweet aromatics, long, aromatic finish.

(76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot) Velvety, fruity, finely creamy bouquet with cassis, black cherries, licorice, currants, eucalyptus. Creamy, dense, full palate with dark, sweet fruit, fine tannins, creamy texture, varied sweet aromatics, long, aromatic finish. 18/20 2027 - 2055

Stands out in the appellation, with density through the mid-palate, and Pauillac signature coming through in pencil lead, graphite and cassis notes. This is a good quality wine with a touch of blackcurrant bud and earth reflecting the cooler temperatures of the year, but plenty of depth and ageing potential. Tasted twice.

The 2021 is a very classically Pauillac-style wine, with a straight palate, sap, and lovely length. The palate is well-defined, still holding back. The whole is balanced, very digestible, with great potential.

A dark, deep bouquet of spiced stewed plums—star anise, clove, cinnamon—with the opulence of a grand salon furnished in Louis XIV style. Clear and fluid on the palate, with that spicy character returning, this time through its tactile feel, fresh and lively. The oak is still present and currently tussles with the fruit, finishing with a persistent finale and a hint of vanilla.

Subtle and complex, Batailley’s bouquet reveals many nuances. The wine has density and a beautiful flavor expression. It shows compact, fine-grained tannins that provide solid support and deliver power. Their slight austerity highlights the aromatic character of the finish and prolongs it. A vigorous, persistent wine, well set for the future.

Deep, intense, purplish colour. A very aromatic, subtle nose. Fruity and floral nuances. Full-bodied on the attack and through the mid-palate, very fragrant, the wine develops as savoury and complete on the palate, with great consistency in its expression. Normal length. A lot of pleasure.