2020 Batailley (Pauillac)

Always a Pauillac that I love to recommend, as it is packed with appellation signature, and it suits the slightly serious character of 2020. Entirely delivers on En Primeur promise, with charcoal, cigar box, slate, crayon and fragrant mint leaf set against waves of black cherry and cassis fruit. 42hl/ha, owned by the Casteja family. 94 points

The 2020 Batailley has a well-defined bouquet with quite precocious blackberry and raspberry fruit, graphite, just a hint of aniseed, very nicely focused and poised. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile black fruit and armed with commendable salinity and a very detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. Want a classically-styled Pauillac at a good value? Look no further. 93 points

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Lifted and leafy black fruit. Invitingly aromatic. Darker and more savoury on the palate, the fruit intense but not really sweet, the tannins fine. Dry tannic finesse and length but oaky and oaky-sweet on the finish. 17 points