2005 Batar
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Bianco. ‘A rainy autumn and a winter with low average temperatures, resulted in delayed growing season. The favourable spring weather conditions that followed enabled the vines to catch up. Summer was unusually cool with abundant rainfall in August.’ Harvest 9–13 September. Glowing with a floral element on the nose and really vivacious and round-textured. This probably had lots of new oak but the fruit has absorbed it well. Long. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Cool vintage, also rainy but in no way like 2002. Brilliant golden yellow. Sweet fine oak and minerals and coffee bean. Creamy and still quite subdued. Same compactness on the palate with creamy lemon. Elegant and sweet creamy perfumed finish with hints of orange. Touch of wax and browning apple adds interest. Almost zippy acidity. Very good for the vintage. (WS)
The estate's barrel-aged 2005 Batar (65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Blanc) is consistently one of Italy's finest whites. The 2005 presents attractive suggestions of jasmine, peaches and sweet tropical fruit on a medium-bodied frame buttressed by a lively note of minerality. While the 2005 is not one of the more opulent Batars, it is nonetheless a very finessed wine that is sure to find many admirers. During a recent visit to the estate I had the opportunity to taste every Batar back to 1995 and there can be no question that in top vintages it is a wine that is capable of developing further complexity with age.
The estate's barrel-aged 2005 Batar (50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Blanc) is consistently one of Italy's finest whites. The 2005 presents attractive suggestions of jasmine, peaches and sweet tropical fruit on a medium-bodied frame buttressed by a lively note of minerality. While the 2005 is not one of the more opulent Batars, it is nonetheless a very finessed wine that is sure to find many admirers. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2017. Importer: Maison Marques & Domaines, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
About the producer
Literally translating as “beautiful oak”, Querciabella was created in 1974 by Giuseppe Castiglioni. A pioneer in Chianti, he started farming biodynamically and experimenting with both varieties and winemaking – one result of which was Camartina, the property’s flagship Super Tuscan.