2005 Chateau Haut-Batailley
By Chateau Haut-Batailley
2005 Chateau Haut-Batailley from Chateau Haut-Batailley, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 2005 vintage was a beacon of excellence in Bordeaux, heralded for offering grandeur and longevity. Amid this triumphant landscape, the 2005 Chateau Haut-Batailley from Chateau Haut-Batailley in Pauillac stands as a testament to the laudable conditions that blessed the region during this celebrated year. My experience with this revered producer's creations stretches across decades, lending me a compass to navigate the subtleties and depths specific to their vintages.
A Vintage of Opulence and Precision
In Pauillac, 2005 was characterised by an almost perfect alignment of the stars: moderate rainfall, a warm summer without extremes, and an untroubled harvest period resulted in grapes of optimal ripeness and balance. The 2005 Chateau Haut-Batailley from Chateau Haut-Batailley bears the hallmark of these conditions in its elegant structure and complexity.
Cultivating Elegance in a Bottle
The wine exudes a rich bouquet of cassis and blackberry, laced with inviting nuances of cedar and tobacco – indicative of noble Pauillac terroir. On the palate, it unfolds with impeccable tannins that signal its potential for further maturation. The finish is distinguished; lingering and composed, as one would anticipate from a wine worthy of patient cellaring.
For the astute investor or enthusiast looking to embrace the stature of prime Bordeaux, the 2005 Chateau Haut-Batailley presents as a prestigious addition to any collection. Not only is it emblematic of an incomparable vintage, but it also offers an enchanting journey through the senses, deep into the heart of Pauillac elegance.
Summarily, one can scarcely overstate the poise and potential housed within each bottle of 2005 Chateau Haut-Batailley from Chateau Haut-Batailley – it is one of those rare entities that not only epitomises its vintage but also enriches it, offering a resplendent example for wine investment connoisseurs seeking to capitalise on the luminous legacy left by Bordeaux's historic 2005 yield.
Current market price
$1,120.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
55.83
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted at a vertical tasting at the château. The 2005 Haut Batailley obviously has a more intense bouquet than the 2004 with blackberry, wild hedgerow and cold gravel scents. It is still quite tight, but there is very fine precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe earthy black fruit. It is actually more approachable than I was expecting for a 2005 having loosened its tie in recent years. There is great depth here and fine mineralité, completing what is a classy and sophisticated Pauillac that should repay further bottle age. Chapeau! Tasted July 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30 June 2017