Chateau Batailley, Pauillac (8 Delicious Wines, Prices, Winemaking)

Chateau Batailley is one of the oldest estates in the Medoc region, with a long-standing winemaking legacy. It produces some of the most sought-after 5th Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux reds. 

Let’s discover all about this traditional Bordeaux estate and the best Chateau Batailley wines to buy in 2021. Also read about its origins, as well as its unique vineyard practices and winemaking.

A Quick Intro to Chateau Batailley

The beautiful Chateau Batailley is situated in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France. The winery is the Borie-Manoux and the Casteja family's flagship estate. 

The Chateau produces two exquisite wines: 

• Chateau Batailley: This eponymous Grand Vin is a Fifth Growth wine of the 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification. 
• Lions de Batailley: The estate started producing this second wine in 2016. This second wine gets its name from the two lion statues guarding Chateau Batailley’s entrance gates.

Both wines are exceptional blends composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. 

Let’s dive into the fascinating origin of this historic Chateau.

The Origin and Evolution of Chateau Batailley

Chateau Batailley dates back to the 15th century, making it one of the oldest estates in the Pauillac appellation. This Medoc property was named after the 1452 Hundred Years’ War (bataille) of which the French re-captured the neighboring Chateau Latour. 

Over the centuries, the Chateau changed hands from the Saint-Martin family to Jean Guillaume Pecholier, Daniel Guestier, Constant Halphen, and then to the Borie family in 1932. 

A decade later, Borie divided the estate into two - Chateau Batailley and Chateau Haut Batailley. 

Today, the Casteja family, headed by Emille’s son Philippe Casteja and grandson Frederic, owns Chateau Batailley. Their negociant company Borie-Manoux also owns the estates of Chateau Lynch-Moussas, Domaine de l’Eglise and Chateau Trottevieille.

Chateau Batailley Vineyards and Winemaking

The vineyards of Chateau Batailley are located west of Mouton Rothschild. They cover 57 hectares divided into four blocks. Each block is further divided into 60 parcels planted with the following grapes:

• Cabernet Sauvignon (70%)
• Merlot (25%)
• Cabernet Franc (3%) 
• Petit Verdot (2%)

 In 2006, Chateau Batailley upgraded its winemaking facilities, and the recent vintages have been phenomenal. 

The chateau follows a traditional winemaking approach. The grape must undergoes malolactic fermentation (with yeasts) first in stainless steel vats and then in barrels. The fermented varietal blend is then aged in 55% new French oak barriques for 16 to 18 months. 

The second wine, Lions de Batailley, is produced from younger vines and smaller vineyard plots. 

The estate releases 22,000 cases of the Grand Vin and 3,000 cases of the second wine each year.

Ready to try some of the best Chateau Batailley wines for yourself? 

8 Best Chateau Batailley Wines to Buy in 2021

Here’s a list of our favorite Chateau Batailley wines:

1. 1927 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru ($645)

This outstanding Bordeaux red wine has a strong nose of redcurrant, plum, and cherry. The palate includes vanilla, red fruit, and currant flavors. 

2. 1952 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru ($245)

The 1952 vintage presents an attractive bouquet of black fruit, blueberry, cassis, and cedar aromas. It has balanced acidity, elegant richness, and a flavorful palate of blackberry, red fruit, and vanilla notes.

3. 1962 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru ($234)

Here we have a red wine with a minty nose and a palate composed of red fruit, plum, vanilla, and currant flavors. This classic Pauillac wine is full-bodied and has a fine tannin texture.

4. 1967 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru ($234)

Here’s an intensive typical Pauillac that offers spicy and fruity aromas of cedar, oak, cassis, and redcurrant. The flavor profile is elegant, with supple tannin and traces of cherry and dark fruit.

5. 1982 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru ($153)

Here we have a paler Chateau Batailley vintage, with a nose of blackcurrant leaf, toast, and licorice. The fine wine offers a palate of blackberry, vanilla, and red fruit notes.

6. 1992 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru ($113)

This fine wine has an attractive bouquet of fruity and earthy aromas with a flavor profile of raisin, dried fruit, cherry, and fig notes. It boasts of incredible richness and fine tannin texture.

7. 2016 Lions de Batailley ($64)

Here we have the second wine of the Chateau that has supple tannin, balanced acidity, and rich black fruit aromas. The exceptional palate includes red fruit, blackcurrant, toast, and vanilla notes. 

8. 2015 Lions de Batailley ($47)

This well-structured, purple-colored Pauillac has a strong nose of red and black fruit with an intense palate of blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum tasting notes. 

Do these delectable wines have any investment potential? 

Investing in Chateau Batailley Wine

Chateau Batailley wines have an aging potential of 10-25 years. The second wine can be aged for a decade in the bottle. 

The wine, like many classic Bordeaux labels, has got consistently high scores from wine critics and is a great investment choice. 

You’ll also find Chateau Batailley wines (especially from recent vintages) at popular en primeur campaigns year after year.

Over the years, the Chateau Batailley wines have shown significant appreciation in value. For instance, the 1984 Chateau Batailley Grand Cru appreciated by around 37%, from $74 to $102 between 2019 and 2021.

Chateau Batailley wines have been superstars at quite a few auctions. For example, a lot of 6 magnum bottles of the 2009 Chateau Batailley wine was sold for $1,216 at a Sotheby’s 2021 auction. At a 2020 Sotheby’s auction, a bottle of the 1949 Chateau Batailley wine was sold for $563.

Savor the Delights of Chateau Batailley and Add It to Your Collection Today!

If you are looking for a classic Bordeaux wine for your cellar, invest in a bottle of Chateau Batailley. These magnificent wines work wonders at your drinks table and also open up promising investment opportunities.

The easiest way to invest in fine wine? 

Short answer: An online wine investment platform like Vinovest.

Visit the Vinovest website to see how you can easily buy, store, and sell your favorite wines from anywhere in the world.