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Haut Batailley 2018 (750ML)
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Critic Scores, Reviews & Descriptions
95 WI / 94 JD / 94 WS / 94-95 JS / 94 WCI / 94 FS / 93 DE / 92 VM / 18 JR
Haut-Batailley 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly unfurls to reveal notes of cassis, cedar, and pencil shavings, followed by hints of unsmoked cigars, tapenade, and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super taut and muscular, supported by fantastically ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and layered. It needs time!-Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent
The flagship 2018 Château Haut-Batailley checks in 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak. It's another deeply hued, classic Pauillac in the vintage that has wonderful purity as well as loads of ripe blackberry and currant fruits, medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful aromas and flavors of graphite, cedarwood, and tobacco, building yet polished tannins, background oak, and a great finish. This pure, classic Pauillac needs 7-8 years of bottle age (it will certainly offer pleasure earlier) and will drink fabulously well for over two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck
Juicy, fresh and nicely compact, with sleek iron along the edges of a core of steeped plum and cassis fruit flavors. Subtle tugs of savory, tobacco and cedar through the finish, with a last, lingering perfumed whiff of dark tea. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
I can’t remember a Haut-Batailley this tannic, yet the tannins are savory and very ripe with beauty and purity. Full-bodied, chewy tannins and a long and intense finish. - James Suckling
This is a lovely wine from the second vintage under Lynch Bages’ ownership, full of power and poise and controlled precision. It has a slightly unusual blend owing to a greater proportion of Merlot than has been used in previous vintages, but it doesn't suffer in terms of concentration due to the thick skins and structure of the Merlots in 2018, and what you get instead is a creamy, velvety texture through the mid palate. It has lots of tannins but they have the enrobed quality that comes from the higher than usual alcohols, and are extremely seductive. It’s more lightly framed than the Lynch Bages, as it was in 2017, and is enjoyable. 3.61pH. 81IPT. - Jane Anson, Decanter
The 2018 Haut-Batailley has come together well. Plump and juicy in feel, the 2018 possesses quite a bit of creaminess in its inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice and leather. The new oak is prominent at this stage. Even so, this is nicely done and promising.
Tasted blind. Some rather exotic spice on the nose. Rich start melds into massive tannic structure. Bodes well for the future though there is no shortage of alcohol on this wine!-Jancis Robinson
