January 27, 2024 - Opened and decanted for about an hour before drinking. Was lovely. 2013 was good but certainly not great. Ate it with partridge and the heather notes in the wine did reflect the birds. However the real pleasure was that the roast beetroot made the whole flavour so good.
October 2, 2023 - Opened, decanted and waited about 1hr before drinking. Ate with beef and simple salad. Was delighted with the wine. Texture silky and subtle. Tannin had softened from previous bottle about a year ago. A modest year but good producers made good wines that are ready now.
February 5, 2023 - Lovely struture and classic nose; fruit and perfume slow to reveal after decantingbut worth the wait.
February 21, 2021 - Mid red. Lovely claret style nose. Red berry notes, a complementary touch of green, a bit of spice. Quite cool and fragrant which carries through on the palate. Quite firm tannins still to close. This is drinking nicely today, though certainly the structure is there to see it through a further spell in the cellar. Very pleasant.
April 11, 2020 - Seems ready to drink. We preferred it before decanting rather than after
March 25, 2018 - Much too young - drunk alongside a 2003 and whilst it showed promise, was still very tannic and closed. Will keep the rest for another 5 years at least.
February 1, 2018 - Tasted on day three. Floral notes, violets, Cranberry, kirsch cherry liquor, peppercorn. Approachable palate. Drinking well now, admittedly after being open for a few days.
March 14, 2017 - Deep ruby. Moderate aromas of black currants, dark plums, cedar, cinnamon, vanilla and liquorice.
It is dry in the mouth with a medium+ acidity. It has high fine-grained tannins and a medium+ alcohol. It is full-bodied with pronounced intensity flavours. The finish is long.
It is a very good quality wine. It has a very persistent finish and a remarkable fruit concentration. It shows balance between the flavour concentration, the tannins, acidity and alcohol, and it shows complexity provided by oak ageing, but not enough to consider it outstanding.
November 4, 2016 - Served with grilled minute steaks. Double decanted about 2 hours before serving. I have been enjoying Batailley for a number of recent vintages, including 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2012. This 2013, of course, is very young and somewhat closed in. However, I think it will be an early drinking wine, especially for this chateau, and not a long ager. It should be much better in 2-4 years. It has typical Batailley cedar and spices; moderate length and moderate tannins in the finish. Altogether enjoyable at this stage, but will improve. It if also at a good price for Batailley.
April 15, 2016 - This was nothing special. Closed aromas. Fiercely tannic, very austere, highish acidity, no real character or balance. Maybe needs a few years laying down.