Château Batailley 2017

Seductive maturation notes. Superb, fresh, juicy texture, great breed, yet also elegance and polish; a magnificent, particularly stylish wine, remarkably successful, with great ageing potential.

This offers up a small plume of cocoa before steering back to more typical dark currant and black cherry fruit notes, inlaid with graphite and sweet tobacco details. The cocoa edge lingers on the finish, adding a light dusty hint to the well-rendered fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 25,000 cases made.

Brooding, dark and seductive on the nose, showing blackcurrant, fresh plums, dark cherries and graphite. Powerful and concentrated, with crunchy bright tones. Fresh, round and generous.

This is straight and transparent with currant and dark-chocolate aromas. Orange peel, light tar and violets. Medium to full body. Gorgeous core of dark fruit and polished tannins that push out the edge of the wine, giving it a seamless texture. A blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 3% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to show it all. Better after 2022.

Floral, crisp, and fresh, with a touch of spearmint sitting atop red currants and cherries. The wine is medium-bodied, open, bright, and almost vibrant on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2024–2042.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, subtle edge brightening, fresh blackberry confit, red cherries, delicate herbal savouriness, orange zest background. Juicy, elegant cherry fruit, fine tannins, fresh structure, some nougat on the finish, versatile.

Dense purple-garnet. A classic nose with plenty of cedar, Brazil tobacco, anise, and black pepper, with elderberry and cassis in the background. On the palate, lots of elegance, ripe extract, and a perfectly supportive tannic framework. Finely aromatic finish with dark-berry contours, licorice, and Dominican tobacco. Since the barrel sample it has clearly gained and, with the barrique richness, shows much more charm; it’s on a very good track!

Kunz barrel sample 18: (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 52 hl/ha) Velvety, finely creamy bouquet, cassis, slate, cedar, tobacco. Balanced, full palate with a finely creamy texture, powerful aromatics, fine tannins, long, aromatic finish.

(80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 52 hl/ha) Silky, finely creamy bouquet, cassis, slate, cedar, tobacco. Balanced, full palate with a finely creamy texture, powerful aromatics, fine tannins, long, aromatic finish. 17/20 2025 - 2038

The Batailley 2017 is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It reveals scents of baked blackberries and black raspberries, plus suggestions of charcoal, dried Provencal herbs, and pencil lead, with a touch of leather. Medium-bodied, the palate is understated and chewy with just enough fruit and freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.

With a straight, sappy profile, the 2017 is a worthy representative of its appellation. A wine still a little austere, yet very precise, with fresh fruit and a slightly saline, juicy finish. Patience…

Direct attack, juicy and fresh, a bit rough, round tannins, long finish with graphite.

Superb bouquet marked by notes of blackcurrant, graphite and eucalyptus. On the palate, the wine is juicy, seductive, and defined by the power of its tannins. These are in harmony with the structure and, in the end, the result is balanced. A great success where the strength of the terroir and the ageing perfectly support the wine.

Dark, intense colour with slight development. Moderately intense yet subtle nose with ripe fruit. The palate is bursting with fruit and very flavourful, evolving beautifully, built on a silky body without being very broad. Good fragrant length. It's very good!