2014 Haut Batailley

The 2014 Haut-Batailley has a perfumed, floral bouquet with pressed rose petals and bay leaves infusing the vivacious dark berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very well-balanced and classic in style, with black pepper and graphite towards the finish. It gains intensity in the glass, completing a really delicious Pauillac that should be ready in a year or two. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Tasted blind. Deep garnet. Lifted and minty, sweet cassis. Fresh and finely textured, elegant and persistent. Harmony between fruit and structure for the medium term. (JH)

The 2014 Haut-Batailley has a tightly wound bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, mint and graphite. It is not powerful or showy, much more linear and actually quite discrete. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp blackberry and boysenberry fruit, graphite and cedar, very focused and nicely structured although it clearly requires several years to unfurl. But it conveys energy right on the finish that bodes well for the future. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.