Dark ruby colour with a tight rim. The nose presents fresh cassis, lead pencil, mineral, mint, and liquorice. The wine is still tight and quite fat on the palate, with blackcurrant and black-cherry flavours, accompanied by dark chocolate and liquorice. It is less concentrated than the 2009 and 2010 vintages but still provides fruit structure, weight, and depth. Batailley 2011 is made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, undergoing laborious work with harvest dates and two green harvests to concentrate fruit. The wine is aged 55% new oak, producing only 38hl/HA.
Consumers compare Batailley and Haut Batailley, which are both 5th Growth. Batailley is fuller-bodied and warmer, echoing a classic Pauillac, while Haut Batailley, also a Pauillac, has a St Julien personality and is more structured to some. The Tasting Team prefers Batailleys in most instances because regardless of vintage, they can age and nurture higher complexity over time.
Consistent comments on the 2011 vintage make these bottles safe for prudent drinkers. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 94 points, describing it as a severe and dense wine with dark, concentrated texture and rich blackberry flavours, balanced with apparent wood ageing. The drinking window is suggested from 2017 to 2027. According to Parker et al., Batailley 2011 is ready years back, with a suggested drinking window from 2017 to 2030, recommending a one-hour decanting session to appreciate its nuances fully. The RP score of 91 further validates its quality and ageing potential, reassuring collectors. James Suckling awarded it 92 points, describing it as having a beautiful length with silky tannins, a juicy finish, and medium to full body. Wine Spectator gives it 91 points, noting solid plum and cherry flavours, integrated toasted vanilla, and a lightly pebbly edge on the finish.
This unique blend of 70% merlot, 24% cabernet franc, and 6% cabernet sauvignon presents a medium red-ruby colour. It entices with red and black cherries, liquorice, camphor, violet, and espresso aromas. The palate is a delightful mix of sweetness and juiciness, with plenty of vinosity and grip. New oak flavours complement the cherries, bitter chocolate, and espresso. The wine's firm and brisk style, with just enough lurking fat to support the tannins, has been significantly tamed. The nose, more open than the palate, promises an even better palate.
This wine's high scores from renowned critics and publications testify to its exceptional quality, balance, and complexity. However, its ageing potential with at least 7 - 8 years of good life truly sets it apart, making it a highly regarded choice for collectors and connoisseurs.
Robert Parker gave it a score of 88, noting that there was a lot of oak and perhaps too much extraction. Nevertheless, he found the wine generous, structured, and with lots of depth. The 2007 vintage gives a mixed message of whether it will pull itself together or become ragged and disjointed. Time will tell.
Gilbert & Gaillard rated it 94, highlighting its velvet character, smooth and round texture, and potential for further development over the next 7 to 8 years due to its tannins and acidity.
Wine Enthusiast scored 93, noting its deep colour, dense nose, ripe fruit, a touch of chocolate, and floral undertones. The clean, full-bodied palate develops solid tannins, making it a unique and racy wine.
The 2005 Château d'Issan is one that Emmanuel Cruse describes as "the first great wine of the modern era". Almost opaque, it has more Merlot than previous vintages as some plots, so it has more flesh and freshness and displays more fruit intensity on the nose compared to the 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 that we had tasted. Blackberry and briary, wilted rose petals, and violets are nicely focused, though you could argue not as complex as other crus of similar standing. The palate is full-bodied with grainy tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a gentle grip. It has a lively finish with a subtle marine influence on the aftertaste. score is high: Anson97, RP96, JS95. Other more prudent tastings award a 93 to 92 level(John Gilman and Vinous, respectfully). It may taste coarse for some. But its unique, bold style is not repeatable.
Anson 97: A classic Issan that slowly steals up on you and doesn't let go. It feels full of signature appellation character - balanced and effortless, melted tannins and a touch of violet aromatics. It's not going anywhere soon, but this is ready to be enjoyed. A yield of 42hl/ha. Beautiful stuff from owner Emmanuel Cruse. Edited,
RP96. The 2005 d'Issan, the more serious grand vin twin, is a wine with a promising future. With its stunning nose of spring flowers, blackcurrant, blue/black fruits, and an impressively opaque dark plum/purple colour, it is a wine of great potential. The rich, concentrated, and pure mouthfeel, the wonderfully sweet tannin, full-bodied density, and richness, all point to a wine that will only improve with age. This is a wine to be savoured now and over the next 20 years, with its peak expected between 2015 and 2035. Edited.
95 points, James Suckling
Lots of sweet tea leaves with mineral and currant character. Stone undertones, too. Full body, firm tannins and a tight finish. It is one of the best from here, with beautifully polished tannins. This needs at least three hours of decanting now. It's a wine for the future but delicious now. (3/2015) Edited.
