93pts Wine Spectator

Offers a beautiful nose of crushed blackberry and cherry, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with a lovely balance of silky, caressing tannins and ripe fruit. Very long and minerally, with mint and eucalyptus character. A wonderful wine from this estate. Best after 2014. 7,915 cases made.

92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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.

91pts James Suckling

Very muscular and powerful with lots of tannins now, but it will come around. Full body and dense. Leave this alone for three or four years.

Vinous

Medium red-ruby. Ripe, smoky aromas of plum and caramel; this smells opulent! Fat and sweet in the mouth, with a slightly roasted character to the supple plum and leather flavors. In a heavier style than the 2006 but with a reasonably fine-grained texture. Finishes with dusty tannins. I find this less refined than the 2006, but there's more material and ripeness here.

Wine Notes

Château Batailley is a 5ème Cru Classé estate in located in Pauillac and is part of the Borie-Manoux portfolio of Châteaux directed by Philippe Casteja. The 2005 vintage is composed of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Rich on the nose with intense dark fruits following through to a powerful, well structured palate with beautifully present tannins. The perfect pairing for lamb and steak dishes.

Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot