2005 Chateau Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 12x75cl

Vinous 87-89

Deep ruby-red. Very dark aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Ripe, juicy and fresh, with lovely violet lift to the dark berry flavors. Finishes with ripe, dusty tannins and lingering black fruit flavors. Not the last word in complexity but unusually rich and floral in 2005. Wait until 2012. [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2006]

Robert Parker 93

Tasted at the Batailley vertical tasting at the château, the 2005 Batailley continues to be an excellent Pauillac that I suspect is overshadowed by some of its more illustrious and, let’s not forget, more expensive neighbors. Here, it has an effervescent bouquet with vibrant red berry fruit and superb mineralité. This is extremely well focused, with hints of rose petal emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with finer tannin than in previous years. I feel there is still some oak to be fully absorbed, so don’t be afraid to cellar this 2005 for another four or five years; but, even at this early stage, you can appreciate its precision on the graphite-infused finish. The 2005 Batailley is where the estate began its upward swing that is continuing to this day. Tasted April 2016. [28/09/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2018-2045

JancisRobinson.com 15.5

Deep garnet. Real freshness on the nose after the run of 2003s I have just been tasting! Good punch with a little gaminess. Tannins receding and just enough fruit in the middle. But no great length. [13/10/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026