1983 CHÂTEAU HAUT BATAILLEY 1983

(12-2016) The 1983 Haut Batailley was the only bottle not to have been tasted at the property. Instead it was a bottle that I had purchased myself from impeccable provenance in Bordeaux. Admittedly, I did not have high expectations. Yet I was pleasantly surprised. The bouquet is what you would expect from a 1983: not powerful but replete with Pauillac-like scents of cedar wood and graphite, commendable degraded black fruit underneath. The palate is well balance with satisfying depth. It is fully mature but certainly not over the hill with plenty of freshness and lovely tobacco-tinged black fruit on the finish. Simply fine classic Claret that belies its 33 years of age. I doff my cap. Drink now because it will not improve further.