Haut Batailley 2013

Deep ruby, tight rim. A fruit-intense, dense example from 2013, this bottle gives a good sense of fleshy blackberry and boysenberry with robust Pauillac tannins, facilitating a development towards a precise style. The second nose points to lively blood orange and pomegranate tones, crunchy cassis, thyme, spice and coffee bean scents, and toast; the wine is crisp, bright and spicy, finishing with a light red berry note. This St Julien type of elegant personality is ready for immediate consumption. It remains an attractive quintessential Pauillac well-balanced using two grapes(76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, matured in 60% new oak) and gripping with a Medium finish. ABV is a mere 13%. If you want a full-bodied Pauillac, this bottle is not for you.

We accord a DD91. It's an RP90. Considering that its 2010 vintage is an RP91, 2013 scores are pretty decent.

RP90. The Château Haut-Batailley 2013 blends 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, picked from 2 to 10 October at 31hl/ha. It has a light and slightly leafy bouquet with touches of bay leaf and undergrowth. It is missing a little vigour at this stage. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline character on the entry (like Lynch Bages). It gains cohesion towards the finish, remaining resolutely 'classic' in style with a nice touch of austerity lingering on the aftertaste. We tasted April 2014.