Château Haut-Batailley 2017

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Haut Batailley sings of baked blackberries, black cherry compote and warm cassis with hints of fungi and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with black fruit flavors and loads of earthy accents, framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing savory.

The bitter plum, dark cherry and red currant fruit flavors are well-melded, carried by a racy iron streak through a finish gilded with floral and sanguine notes. Fresh and defined from start to finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2038.

Rich and fresh aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant leaf and mineral undertones with hints of forest floor. Silky on the palate, nicely rounded and structured.

Lovely perfumes and currants with graphite and light herbs. Medium to full body. Creamy tannins. Soft and elegant and creamy at the end. Finesse. A blend of 66% cabernet sauvignon and 34% merlot. Drink in 2022.

Maxence Podevin, formerly at L'Ostal Cazes in Minervois, is the new young technical director of Haut-Batailley. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. 18 months in French oak (60% new). TA (sulphuric) 3.45, pH 3.69 g/l, IPT 62. This wine, now made by the Cazes family, will have a brand-new label. Spicy, moreish Cabernet fruit, the tannins firm but already smooth. Dark and spicy on the nose, relatively closed at the moment but the sample is cool. Really fine texture, so elegant. Beautifully fresh and juicy, sustained too and dark-fruited on the finish. Fine balance and fruit intensity. (JH)

The 2017 Haut-Batailley is powerful, dark and racy. Dark cherry, gravel, smoke, menthol, licorice and spice all pulse with notable energy and tons of Cabernet Sauvignon savoriness. For such a big wine, Haut-Batailley has quite a bit of nuance, but it is the sense of vibrancy here that is compelling.

With a good depth of color, the wine shows a nice purity of juicy cassis, while a leafy olive and pepper component keeps you engaged throughout this full-bodied, crunchy, and classic experience. The tannins are a bit uncompromising right now, but give the wine time and it will prove worth the wait. This is the debut vintage from the new owners, the Cazes family. The bottle also sports a new, updated label design.

Purple garnet. Seductive bouquet of ripe morello cherries and blackberry jelly, backed by dark precious wood, Dominican tobacco, and verbena. On the firm palate with a finely brittle texture, slightly grippy, fine-grained notes and a muscular body—the signature of the new owner is clearly evident. In the focused, medium finish with blueberry contours, pine resin, juniper, and black olives.

Kunz barrel sample 18: (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 13.6% vol. alcohol) Deep, velvety, fruity bouquet—black berries, currants, licorice, tobacco, mint. Balanced, velvety, powerful palate with creamy fruit, fine tannins, complex dark aromatics, finely muscular, dense structure, and a very long, aromatic finish with plenty of lingering flavors.

Classic, dense, elegant, dark bouquet; black berries, black currant, cassis, fine roasted notes. Tightly woven, elegant, multi-layered palate with plenty of fine tannins, delicate dark fruit, diverse aromatics, elegant, dense structure, very long, full finish. 18/20 2024 - 2048

A cool, fresh and sculpted expression of Pauillac, great quality, sappy, delicate, finessed, very much old school, and here you really see why Haut-Batailley is a Pauillac with a foot in St Julien. One to open and enjoy, mouthwatering, pencil lead, crushed roses, 60% new oak for ageing, 46 hl/ha yield, harvest September 14 to October 2.

The Haut-Batailley 2017 is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot and has a deep garnet color. It sashays out of the glass with alluring notions of black raspberries, redcurrant jelly, and blackberry preserves, followed by suggestions of underbrush, dusty soil, and Indian spices. Medium-bodied, the juicy red and black fruit palate is light on its feet, featuring refreshing acidity with soft tannins, finishing earthy.

The first vintage of the Cazes era remains as charming as ever; this 2017 boasts a silky palate and well-integrated tannins.

Juicy, fresh, indulgent, elegant, lots of fruit, supple tannins, very long finish.

The bouquet clearly reflects its terroir, with notes of dark fruit followed by nuances of graphite and cedar. Surprisingly powerful on the palate, the wine stands out for its vigorous yet fine tannins. The aromatic expression is emphasized from the very attack through to the finish. Lovely persistence. A convincing wine, not to be missed!

Dark, intense, and youthful color. Very aromatic nose with ripe, pure fruit. Precise on the attack, very fruity through the mid-palate, with a rich texture; the wine unfolds powerfully yet creamy, finishing on well-coated tannins.