2024, Château Haut-Batailley, PAUILLAC, 5ème Grand Cru Classé

Bordeaux Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot.

The 2024 Haut-Batailley races across the palate with masses of dark fruit, menthol, liquorice, espresso and dried herbs. Floral overtones reappear on the finish, adding a refined touch. Powerful yet polished, the 2024 is quite impressive. This feels a bit less extracted than the first vintages under the leadership of the Cazes family, not a bad thing at all in my view. Very fine. Tasted two times. 93-95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous (2025).

Deep vibrant plum purple colour, liquorice bud, cassis bud, spiced blackberry and sage, fresh with austerity but balanced by juice running through the palate, well handled. 60% new oak. 3.63 pH, harvest September 25 to October 8. 90% of the estate's 50 year old vines are in here, plus the more recent Petit Verdot plantings. 92 Jane Anson, janeanson.com.

Drinking Window: 2034 - 2054