Château Batailley is located in the commune of Pauillac on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. It produces red wine under the Pauillac AOC. The château building dates from the mid-19th century and is located in a English-style park. The name is thought to come from a battle fought against the English during the 100 Years War. In the 1700s it belonged to the St Martin family. Came by marriage to Rear Admiral de Bedout. Purchased by the merchant Daniel Guestier upon de Bedout’s death; Guestier expanded the vineyard, rebuilt the master’s house and had 12 acres (5 ha) of grounds designed by Napoleon III’s landscape gardener, Barillet-Deschamp. After 1867, with the rise in wine prices, M Halphen, a Parisian, bought Batailley. In 1929 Halphen sells to brothers Marcel and Francis Borie who shared the domaine. In 1942 the domaine is split; Marcel Borie and his wife Madame Castéja kept the chateau and outbuildings, and the heart of the vineyard, while Francois creates what is now Château Haut-Batailley from what remains.

Owner: Emile Castéja. Héritiers Castéja (Borie Manoux). Staff: Régisseur: Emile Castéja (Marcel Borie’s son in law).

Classification: 1855 Classification 5th growth.

Vineyards: 1996: 55ha (136 acres). Cabernet Franc: 5%. Cabernet Sauvignon: 70%. Merlot: 25%.

Tourism: Park containing trees from all over the world. At harvest time the pink cyclamen is in bloom.

Wines

Pauillac AOC, Château Batailley: Oz Clarke (2015: p.41) describes the wine style as showing ‘full, obvious blackcurrant fruit, not too much tannin, luscious overlay of creamy vanilla [new oak], lovely to drink at only 5 years old.’ Hugh Johnson (Wine Companion, 3rd ed. p.61) says this is a Pauillac ‘that approaches St-Estèphe in style.’ 1960s Early 1960s underrated. | 2000 Château Batailley 72% Cabernet Sauvignon. 70,000 bottles.

Contact

Château Batailley

F-33250 Pauillac (Gironde), France

Tel+33 05.55.00.00.70

Bibliography

Visit by Monty and Richard Kershaw Monday 18th November 1996, 11am with Pierre Castéja (who was wearing a green duffle coat).