Château Haut-Batailley 2025

Dark and red berries, with a warm, ripe-fruit character, alongside floral notes and a hint of tobacco; on the palate, fruit-driven and dense, with present tannins that provide structure; juicy, with wonderful acidity, and a pleasantly long finish of dark berries and licorice.

Wild floral scents on the nose with dark berry fruit – blackcurrants and plums. Some tobacco and liquorice too. Plump, wide, round and so smooth, velvety, not fleshy but still well textured so there’s ripeness, grip but also a cooling freshness that really elongates the expression. Lovely purity and clarity. A joyful wine, really smiley, happy and yet not lacking in anything. A soft sweetness and high acidity touch to the fruit.

Black currants, blackberries, flowers, cocoa, tobacco, herbs, and spices create the aromatic profile. The medium-bodied, concentrated palate is fresh, juicy, and energetic. The fruits are sweet, crisp, and bright. The lift in the dark berries fits the character perfectly, adding to the palate texture, through to the fruit-filled finish. Harvesting took place September 8 - September 18. The wine was made from blending 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. 13.4% ABV, 3.6 pH. Drink from 2030-2060. 93-95 Pts

Good concentration, muscular but sappy texture, waves of liquorice, black chocolate, slow unrolling and depth, impressive. In this vintage, Haut-Batailley is less St Julien in Pauillac, and more squarely showcases the full character of the appellation. 3.7pH. 55% new oak. Harvest September 8 to 18.

Notes of graphite, violets and blackcurrant herald complexity and character. Slightly creamy on the attack, the wine gradually gains in breadth and intensity. Its tannins emerge late and are most noticeable on the finish, where they tend to tighten the finale a little, but they become finer with a bit of aeration. A wine with substance and temperament. This latter quality will temper its power with vibrant energy. Freshness, aromatic expression and ageing potential are the main beneficiaries. Patience will be required.

A deep, intense, beautiful colour. A highly aromatic, refined nose, fruity and pure, with an undertone of raspberry. Juicy on the attack, precise through the mid-palate, with plenty of flavour and well-integrated tannins, the wine finishes savoury and fresh with a fine length. Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 13.4% - pH: 3.6. Yield: 32 hl/ha. 5% press wine.