What is Château Batailley?
History and heritage
The name commemorates a 15th‑century battle fought on or near the estate toward the end of the Hundred Years War. The property was acquired by the Borie family in 1932 and was divided in 1942 into Château Batailley and Château Haut‑Batailley; Batailley has since remained with the Castéja branch of the family within the Borie‑Manoux house. It has been classified as a Pauillac Fifth Growth since 1855. Philippe Castéja has served as president of the 1855 Grands Crus Classés council.
Vineyard and terroir
The estate farms 57 hectares of gravel‑rich vineyards typical of Pauillac. Plantings are approximately 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 percent Merlot, 3 percent Cabernet Franc, and 2 percent Petit Verdot. The landscaped grounds include a 6‑hectare park laid out around 1850 by Jean‑Pierre Barillet‑Deschamps, landscape gardener to Napoléon III.
Winemaking and wines
The Grand Vin is Cabernet Sauvignon‑led and aged in French oak to emphasize structure, cassis, cedar, and graphite notes with the capacity to age gracefully. Annual production is roughly 250,000 to 300,000 bottles.
Second wine
Lions de Batailley was introduced starting with the 2015 vintage. Drawn from younger vines and lots not selected for the Grand Vin, it allows the estate to sharpen the focus of the flagship blend.