“Tasted at the Batailley vertical tasting at the château, this was the second time that I have tasted the 1949 Batailley, although this time it was from magnum. Frédéric Castèja later told me that the larger format was obliged by there being just two bottles left in their reserves. Anyway...what a fabulous Claret! The bouquet is much more complex and vibrant than the 1945 Batailley: brambly red berry fruit, pencil box and dried orange peel that evolve into dried petal aromas. This remains so fresh and vital, imbued with the class that the 1949 vintage bestowed its wines. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, beautifully pitched acidity and exquisite balance that induces a feeling of effortlessness. "Cool and calm" I wrote in my notes, with a persistent graphite-tinged finish. This is a great postwar Pauillac, testament to one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century. Tasted April 2016.”
— Neal Martin, Jun 2017