The battle of the Batailleys is always one of our favourite spectator sports at primeurs time but this year it's no contest; the Cazes family are not releasing their newly acquired Haut-Batailley en primeur. While we await its fate, we welcome this morning's release from Philippe and Frederic Casteja at Batailley. And though Batailley is never the easiest wine to taste en primeur, given the quality of the Cabernet this vintage and the recent launch of a second wine, I think this will turn out to be their finest to date. Or as Jane Anson puts it, 'a buy for sure'.
'The 2016 Batailley is a blend of 12% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 85% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 50h hectoliters per hectare. Matured in 60% new oak. It has an intense graphite infused bouquet with fine delineation, some freshly picked Pauillac mint coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin that grip the mouth insistently; with graphite and tobacco-infused black fruit dominating, this a classically styled Batailley in the vein of previous vintages with the elegance coming through towards the finish. This is one of those wines that grows on you, perhaps not as easy or as charming to taste as other Pauillac 2016s at this stage, but knowing this property well, I know how it can blossom when it matters, which is when you and I drink it. 93-95 points.' - Neal Martin, robertparker.com, April 2017
Other recent releases have been Sauternes, two high-scoring Margaux - Labegorce and Prieure-Lichine (93-96 points from Antonio Galloni), and a couple of lovely (and good value) wines from the Vauthier (Ausone) stable - Fonbel and Moulin St-Georges.
During the week a clearer picture has emerged of the consequences of the 27 April frost, the most damaging since at least 1991. While most of the crus classes have escaped, many petits chateaux - unfortunately, those who can afford it least - have suffered devastating losses. This includes properties in Moulis, Listrac, Haut-Medoc, Medoc, the southern part of Margaux (100% loss at Angludet), part of Pessac-Leognan and the Graves, Sauternes (100% loss at Climens), some parts of St-Emilion, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bourg, Blaye and all of the Entre-Deux-Mers. While there's still hope of a secondary budding, overall production is likely to be substantially down. All eyes are on France over their bank holiday weekend. How many Macron voters will be on holiday and not at the polling booths? /AR
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available 2019
