Château Haut-Batailley is a historic Pauillac estate acquired by the Cazes family, owners of Château Lynch-Bages, in 2017. Located in the southern part of the appellation, its established vineyards lie on deep Garonne gravel, a defining Pauillac terroir that provides excellent drainage and encourages slow, even ripening. The maritime influence of the Gironde helps preserve freshness, while the gravelly soils contribute structure and finesse. Verso is the estate’s second wine, first produced under the Cazes family. Verso de Haut-Batailley 2018 is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot. The grapes were hand harvested and carefully sorted both before and after destemming, followed by a three-week maceration with regular remontage and délestage. The wine was aged for 12 months in one-year-old French oak barrels, allowing the fruit to remain at the forefront. The 2018 shows a generous, rounded character, with black cherry, cassis and damson alongside spice, balsamic notes, graphite and a subtle iron-like minerality. Fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity give the wine balance and length, making it excellent with roast lamb, steak, venison, duck and mature cheeses.