Château Batailley

Brand Description

Château Batailley, a 5th Growth Pauillac of the famed 1855 Classification, is Borie-Manoux’s flagship property. The name is derived from the battle (bataille) that took place during the Hundred Years’ War around 1453, designating where the château and vineyard are today. In this battle, the French reconquered the neighboring Château Latour from the English, a crucial point for ending the 300-year-long reign of the English in Aquitaine. The first record of vines planted on these historical grounds dates back to the 16th century. Château Batailley’s 12-acre (5-hectare) gardens were originally designed by Barillet-Deschamps, Napoleon III’s landscape architect, in 1850.

Location of Vineyard

The vineyards spread out over 140 acres (57 hectares) with an average vine age of 40 years old. The soil is silica and gravel, but the heart of the vineyard is on a deep gravel bed over a subsoil of clay and sandstone. There are also some parcels located in between Château Latour and Pichon-Lalande.

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

After a brief cold soak and the use of selected yeasts, the musts are fermented in stainless steel vats with a very traditional vinification. The charming chai dates from 1840 and is lit by an impressive iron candelabra. It is here where the wine is aged for roughly 16 to 18 months in 50% new oak. Batailley is a classic and very typical Pauillac, with cassis and currant flavors and a very firm structure.

Philippe Castéja
Château Batailley
accordion plus icons
Winery Profile
Owner: Philippe Castéja/Borie Manoux
Winemaker: Arnaud Durand
Founded: 19th Century
Production: 180000
accordion plus icons
Acclaim
The 2020 Batailley appears to have gone up a couple of gears since I tasted it just after bottling. It has a perfumed, wonderfully precise nose, almost Margaux-like in style, with scents of cassis and crushed violet blossoming in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent blackberry and hints of licorice on the entry. It's quite saline, building with confidence toward the finish of real heft. This will need a decade to come around, but it will be worth waiting for. — acclaim for 2020 Château Batailley Pauillac from Vinous, Nov 2024
“The 2021 Batailley is quite the powerhouse. Even so, it offers fine balance. Broad tannins enshroud a core of dark-toned fruit, licorice, spice, black olive, lavender and sage. Batailley is a rare 2021 that is going to need time to come together. Its intensity, breadth and overall persistence are impressive. There's real textural resonance here, not to mention tons of character.” — acclaim for 2021 Château Batailley Pauillac from Vinous, Feb 2024
“What a pretty nose. Perfumes of light cedar, sandalwood, chocolate and blackcurrants follow through to a medium body with fine and polished tannins that have length and beauty. Classy for the vintage.” — acclaim for 2021 Château Batailley Pauillac from James Suckling, Jul 2024
View more acclaim Arrow Right