The 2023 Haut-Batailley is a red Bordeaux blend that hails from the renowned Pauillac sub-region in Bordeaux, France. This vintage is composed of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, and is notable for the inclusion of Petit Verdot for the first time.
The wine has garnered high praise from a range of professional reviewers, highlighting its structure, focus, and elegance. James Suckling awarded it 95 points, noting its "creamy, powdery tannins" and "very pretty, silky texture." He described the palate as medium to full-bodied with a solid line of tannins, emphasizing flavors of blackberries and currants with a hint of crushed stone. Suckling also speculated that it might be better than the 2022 vintage.
Antonio Galloni from Vinous rated the wine between 93 and 96 points, commending the 2023 Haut-Batailley for its dark fruit and overall breadth. He noted the greater finesse in the tannins compared to previous years and described the wine as having "black cherry, plum, lavender, cloves, leather, and licorice" beautifully amplified. Galloni called this vintage another major step forward for the château.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, with a score range of 91 to 93 points, highlighted the wine's aromatic profile of dark berries, plums, pencil shavings, and creamy new oak. William Kelley mentioned that the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep, and layered, with plenty of generously extracted, youthfully chewy tannin and a long, lusty finish.
Jane Anson provided a similar score of 94 points, praising the wine's elegance and finesse. She mentioned fragrant violet and peony notes and a mix of smoke, campfire, and slate with blackberry and bilberry fruits. Anson also noted the use of 65% new oak for aging.
Jeff Leve, who rated it between 92 and 94 points, described the nose as having chocolate, mint, flowers, currants, and blackberries. He found the palate lively with black cherries, blackberries, and a chewy, red currant-filled finish.
Jeb Dunnuck, with a score range of 93 to 95 points, described the wine as having "classic Cabernet darker, almost blue fruits, graphite, tobacco, and chalky earth-like nuances." He praised its balance, beautiful tannins, and outstanding length.
Decanter also rated the wine 94 points, noting fragrant raspberries and blackcurrants on the nose with floral touches. They highlighted its structure, power, and depth, describing it as having a "clear vein of freshness" with notes of cool blueberry, mint, graphite, and liquorice on the finish.
Overall, the 2023 Haut-Batailley is a well-structured, elegant red Bordeaux blend with high accolades from multiple reviewers, making it a notable wine from this vintage.