En Primeur 2022 Releases: Château Batailley, Château Boyd Cantenac, Château Poesia, Château Gracia.
Bordeaux Index
17 May 2023
An ever-popular Pauillac, which truly does justice to the term “classic” – where classic is defined as inherently elegant and appetisingly fresh (not thin and dry!).
Batailley is the only Pauillac estate to have been divided since the 1855 classification and to retain the classification for both sides (in 1942 it was divided into Batailley and Haut-Batailley).
While the château has a well-established reputation “for its steady performance and ability to deliver classified Pauillac typicity at a fair price” (JA), this 5th Growth, on its super gravelly plateau, has been on a roll in recent years and the run from 2015 has delivered fantastic, rather than merely steady, quality…
“You can't ignore the construction of the tannins here, but there is plenty of juice in between and this is a gorgeous Batailley. On brand Pauillac, as it so often is, delivering slate, liquorice, energy” Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
The contributing factors to this clear quality improvement have been diverse: from introducing a second wine, which has meant more rigorous selection for the Grand Vin, to improved viticulture (new pruning techniques, focusing on the sap flow; reduction of chemical treatments; plot-by-plot management), to a new cellar (with double the number of vats for more precise vinification); and the beautiful 2022 is the result of all of these small but significant gains harmoniously coming together.
The 2022 vintage will be adorned with a special label for those buying En Primeur (see below). This black and gold bottling commemorates Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who drank Château Batailley 1947 on her silver wedding anniversary with Prince Phillip. For château owner, Philippe Casteja, the 2022 vintage is remarkably similar in both climate and quality to the legendary 1947 vintage, so it seemed a fitting dedication.
Other New Releases Today:
"Offering up aromas of sweet berries, cherries and plums, framed by sweet new oak, the 2022 Poesia is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a lively core of fruit, chalky tannins and a saline finish. Given this late-ripening limestone site's naturally low pH, I tend to think that even less would be more with regards extraction, but this is nevertheless a strong effort." - The Wine Advocate, 91-93 Points
"A solid core of fruit with a freshness and brightness. Medium body. Creamy fine tannins. Serious finish." - James Suckling, 94-95 Points
"Extremely well done with a full body and nicely integrated tannins that give this tension and power. The structure is wonderful. Minty. Chocolate-covered coffee beans. Serious but fun." - James Suckling, 94-95 Points