Château Batailley 2020, Pauillac
£69.95 per bottle
Appellation - Pauillac
The 2020 Batailley appears to have gone up a couple of gears since I tasted it just after bottling. It has a perfumed, wonderfully precise nose, almost Margaux-like in style, with scents of cassis and crushed violet blossoming in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent blackberry and hints of licorice on the entry. It's quite saline, building with confidence toward the finish of real heft. This will need a decade to come around, but it will be worth waiting for. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2032 - 2065
95
Neal Martin, vinous.com, November 2024
"Aromas of black and red currants as well as orange. Ink pot. Cassis bush. Bramble berry. Graphite. Full-bodied yet tight and back-loaded with intense tannins, but they turn soft and polished. Very classic structure. Reminds me of a top Batailley from the 1980s, like 1985, but much more precise and clear. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot, 2% petit verdot, and 2% cabernet franc."
95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2023
