CHÂTEAU HAUT BAGES LIBÉRAL
2021 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
| Village | Pauillac |
| Classification | 5ème Cru Classé |
| ABV | 13.5% |
This is already open and delicious with cherry, cassis, blueberry and chocolate-orange character. Some peach notes, too. Medium to full body with velvety, ripe and plush tannins. Caressing, yet it remains firm and solid. Lovely, creamy finish. 90% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2022)
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You are clearly in Pauillac with this wine, with an earthy, soy and cold ash feel, along with blackberry fruits, chewy tannins and clear density. Impressive, 40% new oak, 20% amphoras for ageing. Harvest September 16 to October 7. Technical director Thomas Bontemps. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 91 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2022)
The 2021 Haut-Bages Libéral contains the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever, the Merlot having been affected by the mildew. Matured in 40% new oak, 40% one-year-old barrels and 20% amphorae, this is curiously Margaux-like, almost more than Durfort-Vivens! Floral and elegant, opening nicely with aeration without pushing the accelerator hard. The palate is medium-bodied and very smooth in texture, maybe just needing a little more tension, but there is decent weight and a cohesive, chalky finish. Very fine, though I lean more toward the Durfort-Vivens this year. Drinking range: 2028 - 2044 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2022)
Containing fully 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Haut-Bages-Libéral offers up aromas of rich berries, plums, loamy soil, licorice and spices. Medium to full-bodied, lively and youthfully primary, with lively acids and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish, I suspect it will flesh out nicely with élevage to number among the sleepers of the vintage. Tasted twice. Rating: 91-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (May 2022)
Château Haut Bages Libéral
Pauillac Cinquième cru 1855 Château Haut Bages Libéral sits nearly atop the hill to the south of the hamlet of Bages - hence the name, Haut Bages - seperated by a country lane from Château Latour. The estate was owned by the Libéral family during the 18th Century, hence the last part of the name. Despite being surrounded by illustious neighbours - aside from Latour to the immediate south, Haut Bages Libéral can also count the two Pichons as "next door" - achieving 5th Growth status in 1855 seems to have been a bit of a high point as a century of typically Bordelais decline followed. In 1960 the Cruse family took control and, apart from cleaving off a portion of vineyards and handing them over to Château Pontet-Canet, the fortunes of Haut Bages Libéral began to improve. The Cruse family were forced to sell in 1982 and Château Haut Bages Libéral became part of the Merlaut family's Taillan Group, which includes Chasse Spleen and Gruaud Larose. The 28ha of vineyard are planted to 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. The wine is fermented in stainless steel before spending 16 months in wood (40% new). Whilst not living up to the greatest heights of its neighbour Latour, Haut Bages Libéral offers some very good value for a really well-made Pauillac.
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RELATED PRODUCTS
2019 CHÂTEAU BATAILLEY 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac
Bordeaux France 13% Red
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot. Half-bottles
Some oriental spice adds an enticing hook to the pretty aromatic nose. Laden with cigar-box notes and pretty, deep red fruit. Gets darker and more cooked on the palate, but holds its own. Rich and ripe and warming - b
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