An open nose of black fruit, violets, sweet vanilla, roasted coffee, and undertones of leather and smoked meat. The taste is as lightish and fresh as the nose, so there are fresh cassis and plum juicy, with heaps of other blue and black fruit bursting through the mid-palate. Tones of chocolate, textured tannins, and coffee beans follow—simple and medium finish. It is approachable now but will age for some years. The tannins are sweet, and the wine has adequate weight, density, opulence, and richness that is good enough for a Pauillac Cru at a lesser vintage. Grand Vin is a blend 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
Currently owned by Xavier Borie, this Pauillac estate sits next to Haut-Batailley and is just south of Borie's other famous château, Grand-Puy-Lacoste. It is one of the oldest estates in the Médoc. The name derived from a battle ("Bataille") where the chateau and vineyard are today during the 100-year war in 1452. In this battle, the French re-conquered the neighbouring Chateau Latour from the English, a crucial point in the history of Aquitaine. Does it matter who won the battle? Knighted by Napolean III as the 5th Growth of 1855, Chateau Batailley may not have the elegance of the British Chateau Latour from the First Growth, but it is now very well made, keeps on improving and has been well-liked by the drinkers, novice and seasoned alike with its high cost-performance. Chateau Batailley is never the most stylish Pauillac, but its reputation for consistent quality and good value makes it one of the most famous wines in the Hong Kong market.
Scores are consistently at 91 to 92 point levels. RP 91 writes, ' A wine consistently exceeding vintage expectations, this is a Batailley drinking very well at a decade old. It is mid garnet in colour, with bold wood spice meets cherries, leather, and a hint of game on the nose. Supple in tannin but bright in acids, this medium-bodied Pauillac hits the classic notes of cedar, graphite and hedgerow fruit in a moreish, compact frame. Meaty, spicy notes bolster the finish with a delicate, fine balance. Drink it now or over the coming 5-8 years. Edited.
JS92 writes, 'This is very racy with a pretty purity and length. Full body, with mineral and stone. Muscular. 94% cabernet sauvignon with the rest in merlot and petit verdot. Very, very impressive from here. Edited.
Farr 91 writes, ' Mid ruby garnet in the glass, the nose here showcases Bataille's oak regime, with roasted coffee and exotic spices bolstering fresh red fruits. The palate is bright and crunchy, with vibrant red fruits and powdery, resolved tannins. This mid-weight and compact wine shows none of the green or stalky edges of the vintage. Bright, light, and ready to drink, it should provide good mid-term drinking pleasure over the next 8 years.' Edited.
Updated: Oct 23, 2024
Dark ruby, tight rim. Classic Cantenac and Brane. This classic Cantenac and Brane, originating from the renowned vineyards, is a masculine, potent, concentrated, and rich wine. It offers subtle fruit freshness and delicate rancio balance. We awarded it DD92.
A consistent score of 90 was given by NM, who wrote, 'Tasted blind at Farr's 2002 Bordeaux tasting. A dark horse, this one! It starts with touches of roasted coffee beans on the nose, gaining moderate definition but intensifying and clarifying with time, developing some secondary scorched, earthy notes. The palate is a delightful balance of freshness and chewiness, with macerated black cherries, melted tar, and graphite, turning peppery towards the lingering finish. It's a wine of good length, very fine indeed. Tasted October 2009. Edited.
Deep purple with a tight pinkish rim, the 2010 vintage is a rare gem, presenting as a more extensive wine for the class with a tremendous mid-palate impression. This is an excellent vintage, so 2010 is ripe and sweet with fine structure and length. The aroma is perfumy and classy, with a balanced 'racio' of blackberry, plum fruit, smoke and wood. This 'ratio' refers to the harmonious blend of these flavours, creating a complex and layered taste. On the palate, you'll find a delightful mix of red fruits(strawberries and cherries). Length is more than reasonable. There are significant scores: 95 Tim Atkins, 93 Falstaff, and 92 Wine Enthusiast.
2010 has a tannic structure and finishes fine. It is denser and weightier. Fresher and riper than 2002, 1999 and 1996, this 2010 finishes nicely: medium length, dry finish with balanced fruit and wood; the suitable alcohol; tamed, dense tannins; slowly evolving with discreet charm. This claret has the structure of a classified growth at a great price(thanks to the low or non-scores from Robert Parker et al. and James Suckling).
In a recent, exclusive Olympian tasting, the 2003 Angludet vintage proved its mettle, outshining a host of better-known wines. Sold out, that 2003 vintage should have demanded more of your attention and rewarded patience and a discerning palate. In that blind tasting, five seasoned wine tasters scored this vintage an impressive 3rd place, with a weighted average score of 88.68. It surpassed the likes of Boyd Cantenac, Centenac Brown, Siran, La Gurgue, Dauzac, Ferriere, Marquis de Terme, Monbrison, Marjolla, and others. While it did lose marginally to Durfort Viviens (87.15) and du Tertre (87.08), its performance was still commendable. So, the old vintages of 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2010 that we are showing here will also be as good. For this Cru-level, like Margaux, these vintages will require patience in the tasting. Don't expect these vintages to give power and fresh fruit; they are more to be appreciated on subtleties. They may need 30 minutes of full decanting.
Surrounded by vineyards of the highest prestige, Giscours, Brane-Cantenac, and Kirwan, these vintages from d'Angludet stand tall. These are not just vineyards; they are the guardians of a rich history and a testament to the art of winemaking. On pebbly stones, no grass growth is possible—one of our first bottles of fine claret, a testament to the rich history of this wine, 30 years back.
