Magnum Château Haut Batailley - Pauillac 2018

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Haut-Batailley has a sweet, opulent bouquet of macerated black cherries, blueberry, hints of fresh fig and pressed violets. The palate is quite full-bodied, exerting a gentle grip on the entry, and the layers of black fruit are framed by supple tannins. The acidity is nicely judged here (pH 3.61), and it fans out nicely toward the finish. This is an outgoing Haut-Batailley, a sophomore vintage that wants to make an impression, and a step up from the 2017, even if I think the Cazes family will make better in the future.

WeinWisser

17 / 20

the5/7/2019

La Revue du Vin de France

16,5-17 / 20

the4/24/2019

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Dark garnet and almost opaque in color, from the initial sniff and sip, you know this is not your grandfather's Haut Batailley. The wine is deep, titillating and fresh. There is density, weight and lift with soft, luxurious, almost cultured tannins. The full-bodied finish combines olives, tobacco leaf and earthy, dark red fruits. The wine was made from blending 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot, reaching 14.3% alcohol.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

Blended of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot aging in 60% new barriques, the 2018 Haut Batailley is very deep purple-black in color and takes some coaxing to reveal profound notes of dark chocolate, crème de cassis, blueberry pie and anise with waves of raspberry pie, lavender and Indian spices. Full, very tightly would and jam-packed with layers of crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long with a mineral hint coming through.

Decanter.com

93 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/17/2019

This is a lovely wine from the second vintage under Lynch Bages’ ownership, full of power and poise and controlled precision. It has a slightly unusual blend owing to a greater proportion of Merlot than has been used in previous vintages, but it doesn't suffer in terms of concentration due to the thick skins and structure of the Merlots in 2018, and what you get instead is a creamy, velvety texture through the mid palate.

It has lots of tannins but they have the enrobed quality that comes from the higher than usual alcohols, and are extremely seductive. It’s more lightly framed than the Lynch Bages, as it was in 2017, and is enjoyable. 3.61pH. 81IPT.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

I can’t remember a Haut-Batailley this tannic, yet the tannins are savory and very ripe with beauty and purity. Full-bodied, chewy tannins and a long and intense finish.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

93 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Fresh and driven, opening with a piercing iron note that is quickly met by a core of racy cassis and damson plum flavors. Everything extends nicely through the pure finish.