Château Batailley Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2014, 75cl

Château Batailley Pauillac, owned by Borie-Manoux, was classified as a Grand Cru Classé in 1855 and is one of the Castéja family's jewels. Its name "Batailley" evokes the last battle of the Hundred Years' war (1337-1453) in the Médoc, on a plateau leading to the French conquered Château Latour; a crucial point for ending the 300 year long reign of the English in Aquitaine. The estate covering an area of 100 hectares including 60 hectares of vines, has belonged to the Castéja family since 1924 and was designed by Barillet-Deschamps, Napoleon III’s park architect, in 1850. In 1855, Napoleon III created the Médoc classification for the Paris World exhibition and Batailley was selected together with the 60 best Medoc Estates to form the Grand Cru Classé 1855 Classification.

Château Batailley Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2014 is a dark ruby red wine, exhibiting an elegant bouquet, a very good full-bodied structure and ripe tannins. With approx. 25 days of fermentation and maceration in small thermo regulated stainless steel tanks, the grapes are aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. The palate offers notes of sweet blackcurrant fruits with blackberries, cedar wood, fruitcake, smoke and liquorish providing a complex and long finish. Best served at 16-17°C, with red meats such as steak, entrecôte, tournedos, Pauillac lamb, game or cheese specialities.