Château Haut-Batailley
シャトー・オー・バタイエ
Feminine Pauillac on the Saint-Julien border, reborn under Cazes
Château Haut-Batailley is a 5th Grand Cru Classé estate in Pauillac, created in 1942 when the historic Château Batailley was divided between the two Borie brothers. François Borie retained the smaller, southern portion, later expanded with 15 hectares purchased from Château Duhart-Milon in 1951. In 2017, the Cazes family — owners of the iconic Château Lynch-Bages — acquired the estate from Françoise des Brest-Borie, nearly doubling the planted vineyard from 22 to 40 hectares by cultivating previously unplanted Pauillac-appellation land. Run independently from Lynch-Bages with its own dedicated team, Haut-Batailley has undergone a quiet renaissance. Situated at the southern border of Pauillac adjoining Saint-Julien, the estate's 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc produce wines of unusual femininity and grace for the appellation — fragrant, refined, and distinctly more elegant than the muscular Pauillac archetype. Grapes are hand-harvested, double-sorted, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, and aged up to 20 months in 40% new French oak. The second wine, Verso, was launched under the Cazes family from the 2017 vintage.
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Who Is This For?
Wine lovers seeking elegance over power in Bordeaux — those who want 1855-classified Pauillac at approachable prices with proven upside under new ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Haut-Batailley differ from other Pauillac wines?
- Haut-Batailley sits at the southern edge of Pauillac, bordering Saint-Julien. This terroir produces wines with more floral, refined, and feminine character than typical Pauillac — think iris, violet, and peony notes alongside the classic cassis, rather than the muscular power of Latour or Mouton.
- What changed when the Cazes family took over in 2017?
- The Cazes family nearly doubled the vineyard from 22 to 40 hectares using previously unplanted Pauillac land, built dedicated winemaking infrastructure, launched the second wine Verso, and brought the precision and commitment behind Lynch-Bages to an estate that was previously underinvested.
- What grape varieties are used and in what proportions?
- The grand vin is made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), with Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Franc (5%). The blend leans Cab-dominant like most Pauillac, but the Merlot component contributes to the wine's softer, more accessible character.
- When is the best time to drink Château Haut-Batailley?
- Haut-Batailley is more approachable young than many Pauillac peers thanks to its elegant, Saint-Julien-influenced style. Good vintages typically enter their drinking window around 8–12 years after harvest and can age gracefully for 20–30 years.
- Does Haut-Batailley have a second wine?
- Yes — Verso, launched from the 2017 vintage under the Cazes family. It offers a more approachable expression of the estate's Pauillac terroir, blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged in used barrels for 8–12 months.