In 1942, the Batailley estate was divided into two, so that two brothers could each have their own part. One half continued under the name Batailley, and the other (smaller) part was re-christened Haut-Batailley. Like Batailley itself, Haut-Batailley is a fifth growth under the terms of the 1855 classification, as a continuation of an 1855 classified estate. For decades, it was ably managed (but not owned) by Francois-Xavier Borie (who owns Grand-Puy-Lacoste), and in 2006 he began a huge renovation of the wine-making facilities and cellars. He had hoped to buy the estate outright, but this was not to be; in 2017 the Cazes family, of neighbouring Chateau Lynch Bages, convinced the then owner to sell to them.

The vineyards are spread across the gravelly Batailley plateau, mainly between Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Lynch-Bages – no shoddy neighbours. Plantings are 70 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 per cent Merlot and 5 per cent Cabernet Franc. It can be austere when young, like many a wine from very gravelly soils, but does age very nicely.

It’s still early days for Haut-Batailley under the Cazes, but they have grand ambitions, and have begun a major replanting programme. They have taken the decision to replant 19 hectares of the estate that enjoy AOC Pauillac planting rights, but which had lain fallow since the time of phylloxera. Expect Haut-Batailley to have a higher profile over the coming years. (NT 10/08/23)