2005 Château Haut-Batailley

Medium red-ruby. Ripe, smoky aromas of plum and caramel; this smells opulent! Fat and sweet in the mouth, with a slightly roasted character to the supple plum and leather flavors. In a heavier style than the 2006 but with a reasonably fine-grained texture. Finishes with dusty tannins. I find this less refined than the 2006, but there's more material and ripeness here. 
- Stephen Tanzer (05/2008) 

Tasted at a vertical tasting at the château. The 2005 Haut Batailley obviously has a more intense bouquet than the 2004 with blackberry, wild hedgerow and cold gravel scents. It is still quite tight, but there is very fine precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe earthy black fruit. It is actually more approachable than I was expecting for a 2005 having loosened its tie in recent years. There is great depth here and fine mineralité, completing what is a classy and sophisticated Pauillac that should repay further bottle age. Chapeau! Tasted July 2016.  
- Neal Martin (06/2017)