Currant and blackberry on the nose, with hints of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins. This is the biggest Batailley in years. Lots of improvement here. 92-95 points, James Suckling for The Wine Spectator, Online March 25, 2010
The 2009 Batailley should give the 2005 a run for its money. It is a slightly sweeter, richer, softer wine (somewhat atypical for Batailley as it is generally one of the more structured and backward of the Pauillacs) exhibiting a dense purple color as well as notes of smoke, blackberries, cassis, charcoal, and oak. Deep, full-bodied, rich, and already seductive, it should have 25+ years of evolution ahead of it. (Tasted two times.) 90-92 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate #188 (APR 2010).
Inky ruby. Red fruits, licorice, dried herbs and cedary oak on the nose. Then dense and fine-grained in the mouth, with a distinctly cool quality to the blackcurrant jelly, red cherry and candied violet flavors. This rich, smooth wine boasts lovely depth of flavor and finishes with a strong herbal aftertaste and mounting, mouthcoating tannins. A very successful Batailley to forget about in your cellar for 6 to 8 years, and then enjoy for another 15 to 20 after that. 89-92 Points, Ian D'Agata for Stephen Tanzer's Int'l Cellar (May 2010) |