Haut Batailley

History of Château Haut-Batailley

The history of Château Haut-Batailley is inseparable from that of Château Batailley, its neighbour, with which it shares a common origin. It was only in 1942, under the impetus of the Borie brothers, that the two properties separated. The split was not the result of a family quarrel, but of a thoughtful reorganisation of assets to facilitate transmission. At that time, François Borie inherited the smallest plot, which became Château Haut-Batailley.

Over the decades, the estate evolved. In 1951, François Borie significantly expanded the vineyard with the acquisition of vines from Château Duhart-Milon, another renowned estate. Upon François's death in 1953, his daughter Françoise inherited the property, but it was her brother Jean-Eugène Borie who took charge of managing the estate and developing the wines. Under his leadership, Château Haut-Batailley forged a reputation for excellence among the Grands Crus Classés of the Médoc.

In 2017, a major turning point occurred with the acquisition of the estate by the Cazes family, already owners of the prestigious Château Lynch-Bages. Under the direction of Jean-Charles Cazes, Château Haut-Batailley began a process of transformation and modernisation, whilst remaining faithful to its roots and the recognised quality of its wines.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Haut-Batailley

The exceptional terroir of Château Haut-Batailley is located in the south of the Pauillac appellation, on the border of Saint-Julien, two emblematic appellations of the left bank. This unique location gives the wines a rare delicacy and elegance, often described as an unusual "femininity" for Pauillacs, traditionally more robust and powerful.

The vineyard, which covered 22 hectares at the time of acquisition by the Cazes family in 2017, rapidly doubled its area, reaching 41 hectares in just three years. This development was made possible thanks to an in-depth study of the terroirs and the planting of new vines on soils left to rest for several years.

The soils of Haut-Batailley are composed of deep gravel, characteristic of the best terroirs of Pauillac. These gravels offer excellent drainage, allowing the vines to draw deep to obtain optimal aromatic concentration in the grapes. The grape varieties are typical of Pauillac, with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), complemented by Merlot (25%) and Petit Verdot (5%). These grape varieties bring complexity, structure and finesse to the estate's wines.

In a constant concern for sustainability, the vineyard is cultivated using sustainable viticulture practices. Particular attention is paid to biodiversity, as evidenced by the planting, in 2022, of more than 900 trees and shrubs of different varieties in the heart of the vines, to strengthen the local ecosystem.

Vinification at Château Haut-Batailley

The vinification methods at Château Haut-Batailley are a perfect balance between tradition and innovation. As soon as the Cazes family acquired the estate, renovation work was undertaken to modernise the facilities, particularly the vat room and cellars. This allowed the estate to move to plot-by-plot vinification, a practice that consists of vinifying each plot separately to capture all the richness and diversity of the terroirs.

The harvest is done by hand, with a double sorting on a vibrating table before and after destemming to retain only the best berries. The maceration is long, about three weeks, to gently extract the aromas, colours and tannins essential to the structure of Pauillac wines.

The wines are then aged in oak barrels, of which about 60% are new each year, for a period of 16 to 18 months. This ageing process allows the tannins to be structured whilst preserving the freshness and purity of the fruit, characteristic of great Bordeaux wines. The ongoing renovations of the cellars aim to further improve the quality of vinification and conservation, thus guaranteeing the longevity of this Grand Cru Classé.

The cuvées of Château Haut-Batailley

Château Haut-Batailley

Château Haut-Batailley is the estate's main wine and embodies the elegance, finesse and complexity of the great Pauillac wines. Thanks to the grape varieties dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine presents a fine tannic structure, with aromas of black fruits, spicy notes and a beautiful freshness on the palate. With time, it evolves towards more complexity, developing nuances of cedar, tobacco and truffle.

Haut-Batailley Verso

Created as soon as the Cazes family took over the property, Haut-Batailley Verso is the estate's second wine. It is designed to offer immediate pleasure, with a more accessible approach than the grand vin. Gourmet and generous, it reveals aromas of black fruits and spicy notes, accompanied by a beautiful freshness that makes it an enjoyable wine from its youth. Haut-Batailley Verso is the ideal companion for a more relaxed tasting, whilst remaining faithful to the Pauillac style.

Pauillac, one of the most prestigious appellations in the Médoc, ranks among the great Bordeaux wines, with remarkable vintages that have made history. Among the finest vintages are those from 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990, renowned for their complexity and longevity. The years 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005 also stand out for their richness and power. More recently, the vintages 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 have confirmed Pauillac's exceptional potential, offering wines that are both elegant and powerful, perfect for long-term cellaring.

The Fifth Classified Growths offer a beautiful diversity of properties in the Médoc, testifying to Bordeaux's winemaking expertise. In Pauillac, one finds renowned estates such as Château d'Armailhac, Château Batailley, Château Clerc Milon, Château Croizet-Bages, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Château Haut-Bages Libéral, Château Haut-Batailley, Château Lynch-Bages, Château Lynch-Moussas, Château Pedesclaux, and Château Pontet-Canet. In the Haut-Médoc, Château Camensac and Château Cantemerle stand out with their own characteristics. In Margaux, Château Dauzac and Château du Tertre bring a touch of elegance, while Château Cos Labory from Saint-Estèphe completes this prestigious selection. Each of these estates reflects a unique facet of the Bordeaux terroir.

Château Haut-Batailley is an emblematic property of Pauillac, which combines tradition and modernity to produce wines of great finesse. Under the direction of the Cazes family, the estate has undergone a real revival, both in terms of the vineyard and the winemaking facilities, allowing its wines to gain in harmony and complexity.