Haut-Batailley, Chateau
Summary
Château Haut-Batailley is a 22-hectare Fifth Growth estate in Pauillac owned by the Cazes family since 2017, producing structured Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines from gravelly soils with excellent drainage and heat retention. The estate combines traditional Pauillac character with modernized winemaking, creating wines with black fruit, cedar and graphite notes while maintaining an approachable style among classified growths.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Haut-Batailley emerged as an independent estate in 1932 when the original Château Batailley property was divided. The northern portion, comprising approximately 22 hectares, became Haut-Batailley under the ownership of the Borie family. The estate maintained its Fifth Growth classification status from the 1855 Classification. In 2017, the Cazes family, owners of Château Lynch-Bages, acquired Haut-Batailley from François-Xavier Borie. The transition marked the beginning of significant investments in the property, including the construction of a new winery completed in 2021.
Vineyards & Wines
The 22-hectare vineyard sits in the heart of Pauillac on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The vineyards occupy classic Médoc gravel soils atop limestone subsoil. The vineyard composition reflects traditional Pauillac proportions with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The estate produces two wines: the grand vin Château Haut-Batailley and a second wine, Verso de Haut-Batailley.
Philosophy & Practice
Under Cazes family ownership, Haut-Batailley employs temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for fermentation, with separate tanks designated for each vineyard parcel. The grand vin ages for 18 months in French oak barrels, with 60% new oak used each vintage. The 2021 winery renovation introduced gravity-flow systems and precision sorting equipment. Harvest is conducted by hand, with grapes sorted first in the vineyard and again at the winery before vinification.