Batailley, Pontet-Canet
Pauillac classic and staunch Uncorked favourite Chateau Batailley was the first wine to release yesterday in the 2024 Bordeaux en primeur campaign. From its extremely gravelly spot on the plateau, Batailley has achieved a long-standing reputation for offering absolute Pauillac typicity at a very fair price. 2024 saw the property celebrate 100 years in the hands of the Borie-Castéja family, and the 2024 vintage is released with a special anniversary label. The roots of this property go back much further than 100 years; the name evokes one of the last French-English battles of the Hundred Years War, which took place on the site of the modern vineyards.
Also released today, Pontet-Canet has been a trailblazer. It was one of the very first classed growths to convert to biodynamic viticulture, no easy thing in damp Bordeaux. It led the way in innovations that have since become widespread, including plot-by-plot vinification and amphorae for raising the wine.
2024 brought extremely challenging conditions to the vineyards of Bordeaux. In spring, rain and cool temperatures disrupted flowering, and mildew ran rampant in the vineyards. After a glorious, season-saving summer, rains returned in September to threaten the harvest. Thirty years ago, such a vintage might have been a write-off, but winemaking has come a long way since then. Winemakers who held their nerve, made the right decisions, put in the hours in the vineyards and then correctly sorted their fruit were able to make beautiful wines. Last week in Bordeaux, Uncorked tasted elegant, expressive, delicious wines that will comfortably stand the test of time.
Read the full vintage report here.
