Tasted at a vertical tasting at the château. The 2004 Haut Batailley was very closed on the nose and I actually prefer the 2003 in terms of personality. It reluctantly offers tarry black fruit, smoke and tobacco but it feels quite pinched. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, nicely balanced and though not a complex Pauillac, there is a slightly meatiness on the finish as its moves into secondary flavors that partly compensates for the meanness of the aromatics. Perhaps another couple of years in bottle might help. That said, instincts tell me that the best years might already be behind it. 86 points