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Batailley 2020

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

A well situated vineyard in Pauillac that can be relied upon to produce a consistent wine of classic Médoc style and breed. Quality has moved up a level in recent vintages whilst prices remain reasonable. The château is now producing a second wine - Lions de Batailley - which means that production of the grand vin has fallen from 20,000 cases to around 13,000 per annum. This selection process has further increased the quality of the grand vin.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Batailley

Label

Tasting Notes

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. Try after 2030.

95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2023

Always a Pauillac that I love to recommend, as it is packed with appellation signature, and it suits the slightly serious character of 2020. Entirely delivers on En Primeur promise, with charcoal, cigar box, slate, crayon and fragrant mint leaf set against waves of black cherry and cassis fruit. 42hl/ha, owned by the Casteja family.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, February 2023

A strong effort for this Pauillac fifth growth, the 2020 Batailley offers up aromas of sweet blackcurrant fruit mingled with notes of cloves, baking spices, vanilla pod and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, with good depth and concentration, its pure core of fruit is framed by powdery, youthfully assertive tannins. 2027 - 2050

92+
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2023

The 2020 Batailley has a well-defined bouquet with quite precocious blackberry and raspberry fruit, graphite, just a hint of aniseed, very nicely focused and poised. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile black fruit and armed with commendable salinity and a very detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. Want a classically-styled Pauillac at a good value? Look no further.

93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, February 2023

The 2020 Batailley is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it reveals flashy scents of creme de cassis, redcurrant preserves, and wild blueberries, giving way to touches of violets, dark chocolate, camphor, and unsmoked cigars with a hint of cedar. The medium-bodied palate is chock full of bright, expressive cassis and red berry flavors, supported by fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with a mineral lift.

93+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, June 2023

The 2020 is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all picked by the end of September. The château are calling this the "third musketeer" of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 trilogy. Fermentations here were carried out at cooler temperatures in order to preserve the pristine fruit aromas of the wine. Deep ruby in colour. The oak is less evident on the nose than in recent vintages, allowing for layered blue and black fruit to shine through. There is some spice and game too, but it is subtle and well integrated. The palate is just as impressive, with fleshy cherry and cassis subsuming the smoky oak at the core. The tannins are polished but still grippy, adding savoury depth and ageing potential. The finish is persistent with cool cassis. Impressive!

93/95
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, April 2021

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.
Dark fruit with cassis notes and a graphite edge. Fine attack, juicy and refreshing but backed by a firmness of structure behind. Solid, subdued and distinctly Pauillac. Still relative value.
Drink 2028 – 2040

17
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2021
Read more tasting notes...

The 2020 Batailley is quintessential Pauillac on the nose of very focused black fruit infused with cedar and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grippy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Classic in style, this is lightly spiced, showing impressive depth toward the finish. This estate has enjoyed a good run of form in recent years and this 2020 continues that trend. If you love the style of Batailley, you will love this. 2028 - 2055.

93/95
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2021

This is classically structured with a wonderful finish of extremely polished tannins and an ultra long finish. So much blackcurrant, spice and cedar. Seamless. 70% cabernet sauvignon and 26% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2021

Takes its time to unroll then shows sweetness to the black cherry and brambled blackberries fruits, followed by cigar, pencil lead and crushed stone. This is signature Batailley in that it has that essence-of-Pauillac feel. A delicious wine, such a great great drinking claret, really one to look out for in this vintage; already looking forward to drinking this in 10 years time. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 60% new oak. A yield of 42hl/ha.

Drinking Window 2028 - 2042

94
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, May 2021
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.