Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. This has a rounded, intense nose with ample brambly black fruit, touch of raspberry leaf and cedar with good definition. Very bright and lively compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy entry. Very supple tannins and a caressing mouthfeel considering the vintage. There are lush ripe red fruits intermingling with sous-bois on the finish. The Merlot if expressive and very attractive here. Just give this a few years to come into its own. Tasted January 2012.

Wood spice, earth, black currant and sweet cherry characteristics are found in this elegant, medium to full-bodied, surprisingly rich, well-textured effort. From the bottle, it confirms the high quality I noted two years ago from barrel. More forward than usual for Batailley, it is a dark plum-hued wine that requires 2-4 years of bottle age, but should easily last 15+ years.