08/12/2026
A tasting of two Bordeaux. š· Letās talk vintage, appellation and whatās in the bottle.
š· 2001 vs. 2015
My 2001 ChĆ¢teau Cantenac Brown was unfortunately past its prime. I couldnāt even taste what could have been. Was it storage, provenance, bottle variation or simply this particular bottle? Who knows, but this one had given all it had to give.
The 2015 ChĆ¢teau Haut-Batailley, on the other hand? I think now is the perfect time to open it. It was the perfect sip.
š„ Margaux vs. Pauillac
Both are Left Bank Bordeaux appellations, so Cabernet Sauvignon tends to dominate, but they express it very differently.
Margaux: perfume, elegance and finesse.
Unfortunately, because my bottle was past its prime, I couldnāt experience the classic Margaux profile I was hoping for.
Pauillac: power, structure and depth.
And that I got! But I also found an unexpected elegance. It had the structure and depth I expected from Pauillac without feeling heavy or overpowering. It was a beautiful w**e, though some of that elegance may simply be the producer.
š¾ So, whatās in the bottle?
The 2001 ChĆ¢teau Cantenac Brown is a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-based blend. I couldnāt find reliable percentages for this particular vintage.
The 2015 ChĆ¢teau Haut-Batailley is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot.
Same bank. Same two dominant grapes. Two different appellations. Two very different bottles.
And one very good reminder: with older w**e, there are no guarantees, but thatās part of the fun. š·
**etasting
ChĆ¢teau Cantenac Brown ChaĢteau Haut-Batailley
