Chateau Haut-Batailley : Verso 2020

A fruity and delicate Pauillac second wine

The estate

A Fifth Grand Cru Classe in the Official Classification of 1855, Château Haut-Batailley is a benchmark of quality in the Pauillac appellation. Its name is derived from the word “battle”, in memory of the battles that allegedly took place on the estate at the end of the Hundred Years’ War, in the 15th century.

Since 2017, Château Haut-Batailley has been run by the Cazes family, who continue the work initiated by the Borie family since 1930. Today, they continue to produce fine wines from this essential Médoc estate, on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The wines showcase a great style and a high quality.

The vineyard

The terroir of Château Haut-Batailley covers some forty hectares, including 22 hectares of old vines planted on soils composed of fine Garonne gravel, clay and ''alios'' (sandstone).

The wine

Verso is the Second Wine of Château Haut-Batailley, an illustrious estate among fine Pauillac wines.

The vintage

The mild winter and spring weather favoured an early budding of the vines as well as a rapid and optimal vegetative development. Although hot and humid weather slowed down flowering at the end of May, the first few weeks of the summer were dry and particularly hot. Stormy weather in the second half of August preceded a mild September. These ideal conditions greatly benefitted the vineyard and helped to refine the ripeness of the grapes until the harvest.

Vinification and ageing

The hand-picked grapes are rigorously sorted in the vineyard along with before and after destemming. Vatting time for three weeks with pumping over and delestage. Following the run-off, malolactic fermentation in vats and then ageing in second-fill barrels for a period of 12 months.

The blend

Merlot (60%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (40%).

Verso 2020 by Château Haut-Batailley: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour
This wine showcases a beautiful purple colour.

Nose
The delicate and seductive nose gives off blackcurrant and blueberry fragrances.

Palate
The palate is seduced by this wine’s fruity expression (black fruits) as well as its supple and precise tannins. The finish is persistent and sustained by subtle spicy notes.