Category: | Red Wines |
Sub-Category: | Red Wines |
Producer: | Batailley |
Label Name: | Pauillac 5eme Cru |
Vintage: | 1996 |
Country: | France |
Region: | Pauillac, Bordeaux |
Volume: | 1500ml |
ABV: | 13% |
Grape(s): | Cabernet Sauvignon (≈70%), Merlot (≈25%), Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot |
Acidity: | 3 |
Tannins: | 4 |
Sweetness: | 1 |
Body: | 4 |
Length: | 4 |
Aroma Intensity: | 4 |
Best Temperature: | 16-18°C |
Awards/Ratings
Contemporary and retrospective scores vary: Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) c. 87–89 (1998); Jancis Robinson ~17/20; Wine Spectator reviews ca. mid‑ to high‑80s; later individual reviewers (e. g. Jamie Goode, Jeannie Cho Lee) have awarded higher retrospective scores
Tasting Note
Cassis and black‑currant lead, with cedar, cigar-box, pencil‑lead and graphite notes; dried tobacco and dark plum. Medium–full body, polished ripe tannins, savory mineral depth and a lingering cassis‑cedar finish.
Food Pairing
Roast lamb, grilled rib‑eye or beef short ribs, mushroom risotto, aged cheddar or comté; Asian: Peking duck, Korean BBQ (bulgogi), char siu, braised beef with soy and star anise.
Production Method
Traditional Bordeaux vinification: plot-by-plot fermentation, élevage in oak barrels (portion new oak), racking and blending; aged ~12–18 months before bottling.
Vineyard Info
Château Batailley, a Cinquième Cru Classé (1855) in Pauillac, is owned/managed by the Borie–Castéja (Borie‑Manoux) group; ~55–60 ha planted, long family history dating to the 17th–19th centuries.