Chateau Batailley
Château Batailley is one of the oldest estates in the Médoc in Bordeaux. The name Batailley is derived from the French word bataille, which means battle. This is because a battle took place on the site of the castle and vineyard, during the 100-years’ war in 1452. Over the years, the domain has had several owners. The Castéja and Borie-Manoux families have been proud owners of the estate since the previous century. Château Batailley is included in the 1855 classification as 5eme Grand Cru Classé.
The total plantation extends over 57 hectares, of which 70% is Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. The other surfaces are planted with petit verdot and cabernet franc. The vineyards are located in the Pauillac appellation, on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. The vines have an average age of 40 years. The winery is currently experimenting with biodynamic farming techniques on one small plot. The soil consists of gravel, clay and sand: a soil on which the Cabernet Sauvignon thrives.
Fermentation takes place in large stainless-steel tanks. Each plot is fermented in its own tank, in order to preserve the unique character of each vineyard. The wine is then matured in French oak, 55% of which consists of new wood. The maturation period lasts on average 16 to 18 months. Since 2015, Château Batailley also produces a second wine, Lions de Batailley. The wines are intense with a lot of structure and complexity.
The wines of Château Batailley can be kept for 20 to 40+ years. The best vintages of Château Batailley are: 1929, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.