The grand vin 2018 ch�teau haut-batailley is a beauty and is comprised of 59% cabernet sauvignon and 41% merlot brought up in 60% new french oak. It's an attractive, elegantly styled wine that has lots of juicy merlot notes of black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and spice. Rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and with terrific purity on the palate, this brilliant pauillac is going to be approachable in just a few years and will evolve gracefully.�Fresh and driven, opening with a piercing iron note that is quickly met by a core of racy cassis and damson plum flavors. Everything extends nicely through the pure finish. Cabernet sauvignon and merlot.Dark and pure on the nose just a touch stony/smoky to add finesse to the fruit. Oak is quite evident on the palate but there's fruit to fill it out. Less aromatic than the second wine (new name: verso) but there's still a restraint and subtlety in a powerful vintage. Long on the finish yet the persistence is gentle. Fine-grained tannin texture.