Appellations

Haut Batailley 2018

Pauillac, Fifth Growth

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Tasting Notes

The flagship 2018 Château Haut-Batailley checks in 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak. It's another deeply hued, classic Pauillac in the vintage that has wonderful purity as well as loads of ripe blackberry and currant fruits, medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful aromas and flavors of graphite, cedarwood, and tobacco, building yet polished tannins, background oak, and a great finish. This pure, classic Pauillac needs 7-8 years of bottle age (it will certainly offer pleasure earlier) and will drink fabulously well for over two decades.

Score: 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2041 Date: 19 July 2021

The grand vin 2018 Château Haut-Batailley is a beauty and is comprised of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot brought up in 60% new French oak. It's an attractive, elegantly styled wine that has lots of juicy Merlot notes of black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and spice. Rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and with terrific purity on the palate, this brilliant Pauillac is going to be approachable in just a few years and will evolve gracefully. This wine hit 14.3% alcohol with 3.61 pH and an IPT of 81. My money is on it being one of the best to date from this estate.

Score: 93 - 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 01 May 2019

The 2018 Haut-Batailley has a sweet, opulent bouquet of macerated black cherries, blueberry, hints of fresh fig and pressed violets. The palate is quite full-bodied, exerting a gentle grip on the entry, and the layers of black fruit are framed by supple tannins. The acidity is nicely judged here (pH 3.61), and it fans out nicely toward the finish. This is an outgoing Haut-Batailley, a sophomore vintage that wants to make an impression, and a step up from the 2017, even if I think the Cazes family will make better in the future.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2050 Date: 01 November 2019

Blended of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot aging in 60% new barriques, the 2018 Haut Batailley is very deep purple-black in color and takes some coaxing to reveal profound notes of dark chocolate, crème de cassis, blueberry pie and anise with waves of raspberry pie, lavender and Indian spices. Full, very tightly would and jam-packed with layers of crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long with a mineral hint coming through.

Score: 92 - 94 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

This is a lovely wine from the second vintage under Lynch Bages’ ownership, full of power and poise and controlled precision. It has a slightly unusual blend owing to a greater proportion of Merlot than has been used in previous vintages, but it doesn't suffer in terms of concentration due to the thick skins and structure of the Merlots in 2018, and what you get instead is a creamy, velvety texture through the mid palate. It has lots of tannins but they have the enrobed quality that comes from the higher than usual alcohols, and are extremely seductive. It’s more lightly framed than the Lynch Bages, as it was in 2017, and is enjoyable. 3.61pH. 81IPT.

Score: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024-2036 Date: 16 April 2019

This is very structured and dense with lots of fruit and tannin, yet it’s tight and long. Linear and racy. Muscular.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

The 2018 Haut-Batailley is a powerful, virile Pauillac. Black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and chocolate are pushed forward, with tons of Cabernet Sauvignon character in both the wine's flavor and structural profile. This is a decidedly unctuous, powerful style, and the elements still need time to fully come together, especially the oak. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot.

Score: 89 - 92 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019

Fresh and driven, opening with a piercing iron note that is quickly met by a core of racy cassis and damson plum flavors. Everything extends nicely through the pure finish.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2019