Batailley Pauillac 5eme Cru 1996

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Batailley
Label Name:
 
Pauillac 5eme Cru
Vintage:
 
1996
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pauillac, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
1500ml
ABV:
 
13%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon (≈70%), Merlot (≈25%), Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Contemporary and retrospective scores vary: Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) c. 87–89 (1998); Jancis Robinson ~17/20; Wine Spectator reviews ca. mid‑ to high‑80s; later individual reviewers (e. g. Jamie Goode, Jeannie Cho Lee) have awarded higher retrospective scores

Tasting Note
Cassis and black‑currant lead, with cedar, cigar-box, pencil‑lead and graphite notes; dried tobacco and dark plum. Medium–full body, polished ripe tannins, savory mineral depth and a lingering cassis‑cedar finish.

Food Pairing
Roast lamb, grilled rib‑eye or beef short ribs, mushroom risotto, aged cheddar or comté; Asian: Peking duck, Korean BBQ (bulgogi), char siu, braised beef with soy and star anise.

Production Method
Traditional Bordeaux vinification: plot-by-plot fermentation, élevage in oak barrels (portion new oak), racking and blending; aged ~12–18 months before bottling.

Vineyard Info
Château Batailley, a Cinquième Cru Classé (1855) in Pauillac, is owned/managed by the Borie–Castéja (Borie‑Manoux) group; ~55–60 ha planted, long family history dating to the 17th–19th centuries.