Bold and fruity, this is a black-currant-flavored wine with soft tannins. In this vintage, the crisp acidity has also kicked in to give the wine its lift and to balance the ripe flavors. The wine is for the medium term. Drink from 2021.

The 2014 Batailley has an attractive bouquet, lilting scents of redcurrant and raspberry coulis, quite floral and very precise. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, good depth and body, rounded for Batailley and less austere than usual. It feels closed towards the finish, tight-lipped, but there is certainly grip and presence here. It will require several years in bottle before it can show its true potential, but there is a sense of class to this Batailley that I suspect will become more evident with maturity. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

A light sous-bois note leads off, followed by a core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit, while licorice root and tobacco accents fill in on the finish. This fleshes out steadily, showing some slightly austere grip but enough depth of fruit to warrant cellaring. Best from 2018 through 2026. 15,000 cases made.