Château Haut-Batailley : Verso 2019

The freshness and aromatic expression of a Pauillac Second Wine

The estate

A Fifth Grand Cru Classe in the Official Classification of 1855, Château Haut-Batailley is a benchmark of quality in the Pauillac appellation. Its name is derived from the word “battle”, in memory of the battles that allegedly took place on the estate at the end of the Hundred Years’ War, in the 15th century.

Since 2017, Château Haut-Batailley has been run by the Cazes family, who continue the work initiated by the Borie family since 1930. Today, they continue to produce fine wines from this essential Médoc estate, on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The wines showcase a great style and a high quality.

The vineyard

A benchmark among fine Pauillac wines, the terroir of Château Haut-Batailley covers some forty hectares, including 22 hectares of vineyards that are 35 years old on average.

The wine

Verso is the Second Wine of Château Haut-Batailley.

The vintage

The winter was particularly dry and favoured an early budburst. The development of the vineyard was then slowed down by the cool temperatures recorded during the months of April and May. The warm and dry conditions at the end of May ensured an optimal flowering. The hot spells at the beginning of the summer did not affect the vineyard, which was mainly composed of old vines with deep roots. Rainfall at the end of July and during the month of August provided sufficient water reserves for the vineyard. September was hot and dry, and the conditions were ideal for perfecting the ageing and health of the vineyard until the harvest from 23 September to 9 October.

Vinification and ageing

The hand-picked grapes are first sorted in the vineyard, followed by two successive sortings before and after destemming. Vatting time for 3 weeks accompanied by pumping over and delestage. The run-off precedes malolactic fermentation in vats before being placed into barrels. The wine is aged for 8 months in second-fill barrels.

The blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (65%)

Merlot (35%).

Verso de Château Haut-Batailley 2019: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

This wine showcases a beautiful dark ruby colour.

Nose

The lively and fresh nose gives off intense red fruit fragrances.

Palate

The palate is seduced by this wine’s balance, its fine tannins and its subtle woody notes.