You want to know what Pauillac tastes like, roll up and enjoy this vintage of Batailley. Squid ink, slate, cassis, bilberry, slate, crayon, black chocolate, plenty of tannic grip, a smudge of grilled cedar oak and a squeeze of mint, it's all here. 57% new oak for ageing. Harvest September 12 through to October 5, Axel Marchal consultant, Philippe and Frederic Castéja owners.

Beautiful fruit with currants and blackberries, as well as notes of walnuts and chocolate. So much blackberry fruit here. Aromatic. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine tannins on the deep and structured palate. Racy and long finish. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 2% petit verdot.

The 2023 Batailley was picked September 12 to October 5 at around 49hL/ha, matured in 57% new oak. It has an elegant and understated bouquet compared to the previous vintage, as with all châteaux, well-defined, with a light estuarine influence emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It’s very bright and fresh and there’s plenty of fruit here. A deft, harmonious finish lingers in the mouth. This is an excellent Batailley.

The 2023 Batailley is an ample, large-scaled Pauillac. Even so, I find it quite restrained and not particularly expressive at this stage. There's good vibrancy to the red-toned fruit. Hopefully élevage will do the trick here.

Cask sample. Subdued nose but clean and precise. Medium-bodied with dry extract. Tannins well worked. Pauillac punch and reserve. (JL)