Chateau Haut Batailley Chateau Haut Batailley

1995 Chateau Haut-Batailley

By Chateau Haut-Batailley

1995 Chateau Haut-Batailley from Chateau Haut-Batailley, Pauillac, Bordeaux

The 1995 vintage in Bordeaux was a year that piqued the interest of both astute collectors and discerning oenophiles, marked by a season which initially flirted with austerity but ultimately revealed generous fruit upon maturity. The 1995 Chateau Haut-Batailley, residing within the revered Pauillac appellation, unequivocally encapsulates this narrative.

 

Decoding the Grandeur of '95

With two decades poised upon its shoulders, the 1995 Chateau Haut-Batailley has transcended its earlier promise and blossomed into a splendid illustration of the alchemy between time and terroir. As one delves into this wine's complexity, the power and poise that typify Pauillac vintages become ever-present, albeit swathed in a velveteen elegance unique to '95.

 

An Ode to Resilience and Refinement

Upon engaging with this wine, enthusiasts will experience a harmonious blend of the classic Left Bank vigour with a softer allure - think cassis kissed by hints of tobacco and earthy undertones. With tannins that have mellowed yet assert their presence with a dignified grace, this Chateau Haut-Batailley posits a formidable case for the resilience of well-crafted Bordeaux in the cellar.

A wine that stood stoically through variable climatic tides, it is an admirable candidate for wine investment, balancing the culmination of opulent fruit with structured finesse—a hallmark of sustainable allure on the secondary market.

In essence, the 1995 Chateau Haut-Batailley unfolds as a symphonic interplay between ripened fruit and bespoke composure. As it occupies a distinct niche within its genealogy—detached from the more opulent '96 or verdant '94—it boasts an individual narrative eloquently narrated through each savoured sip. To indulge in this vintage is to appreciate an integral chapter of Pauillac's storied vinous tapestry, rendering it a pristine addition to refined portfolios seeking to interlace pleasure with prudence.

Market price (HKD)

HK$9,030.00

12x75cl

Highest score

91

POP score

86.36

Scores and tasting notes

91

Following my previous encounter with the 1995 Haut Batailley, I was optimistic about its maturation in bottle. When François-Xavier Borie poured an example following a vertical at Grand Puy-Lacoste...well, that view was vindicated. This is perhaps an unheralded wine of a strong vintage. It has a generous bouquet with vibrant red berry fruit that cocks a snook at the 2000 Haut Batailley that was poured alongside. Mulberry and leather at first, undergrowth emerging with time. The palate might be a little smudged on the entry but there is impressive weight and concentration, superb balance and real structure on the finish to suggest that it will give 20+ years of pleasure. This is worth seeking out at its secondary market prices and probably more attractive than many of its peers. Tasted July 2016.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30 June 2017

Vintage performance