CHÂTEAU HAUT BAGES LIBÉRAL
2022 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
| Village | Pauillac |
| Classification | 5ème Cru Classé |
The 2022 Haut-Bages-Libéral was picked from 6 to 26 September and is being raised in 40% new oak, plus 20% in concrete tanks and amphorae. Yields were 45hL/ha, higher than many other estates, which Clare Villars-Lurton cites as a result of their long-term application of biodynamic viticulture and use of cover crops. It has an entrancing bouquet with blackberry, briary, crushed stone and light estuarine scents, understated initially but rapidly gaining intensity. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and saline with sculpted tannins, stunning balance and a mineral finish. This is an outstanding, vivacious 2022 from proprietor Claire Villars-Lurton. Drinking range: 2030 - 2070 Rating: 94-96 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2023)
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87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot. 50% new oak, with older oak, a few amphorae and concrete eggs. 13.9% alc. 45 hl/ha. Harvested Merlot from 6 – 16 September, Cabernet Sauvignon from 16 – 26 September This wine is made from a blend of two terroirs or two parcels – chalk and gravel. Claire and Gonzague Lurton work extensively with cover crops, and their incredibly attentive viticulture practices resulted in yields of 45 hl/ha instead of a commune average of 34 hl/ha. These vines are clearly very happy and healthy, and the resulting flavour of this wine is generous, active and dynamic. There is superb balance here between the wildness of the blackberry fruit and the careful oak integration, and a razor-sharp line of acid keeps all of the exuberance in check. Rating: 18+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2023)
A brilliant wine with bright and delcious notes of red cherries. It seems almost burgundian in the style of its fruit flavours and this lifted profile makes it very digestible. Rating: 95-96 La Revue du Vin de France (May 2023)
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot. 45 hl/ha (a record for Pauillac this year). Cask sample. Expressive dark-fruit aroma with notes of cassis and dark cherry. Lovely texture, the tannins silky and smooth. Fresh as well. On the fine side of Pauillac but there’s pleasure to be had here. (JL) 13.9% Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 16.5+ James Lawther MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (May 2023)
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
Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot. 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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