Château Batailley, Pauillac 2016 100ml

Château Batailley is one of the oldest buildings in Pauillac and has always appeared on regional maps. The name originates from the battles which took place during the 14th century on the plateau neighbouring Château Latour. The château was re-styled in the 18th century providing magnificent cellars for ageing the wines, and was classified a fifth growth in 1855. It is surrounded by a park covering six hectares designed by Barillet-Deschamps, landscape gardener to Napoleon III.

The property is owned and lived in by the Castéja family who also own Lynch Moussas, Beau-Site, Trotte Vieille and Domaine de l’Eglise. Since Philippe Castéja took over the running of the estate from his father, there has been considerable investment in both vineyard and cellar and this property, which was always reliable, is making better and better wine.

The vineyards are planted on deep gravel typical of Pauillac, with excellent natural drainage. Batailley has made consistently good claret, popular with Society members over many years, but recent vintages have shown riper, sweeter fruit, undoubtedly in part due to the informed guidance of influential consultant the late Professor Denis Dubourdieu.