2009 | Château Haut-Bages Libéral | Pauillac

Singed bay leaf and briar notes run along the edges, with ripe, almost sappy blackberry, black cherry and currant fruit leading to a finish of tobacco and olive. Latent grip hangs through the finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Probably the finest Haut-Bages Liberal since the 1982, this beautifully rich wine has an inky purple color, a big, sweet kiss of creme de cassis, incense, some background spicy oak and forest floor. Its gorgeous fruit, full-bodied opulence, impressive purity, expansive texture and broad, savory finish make for a terrific wine to drink over the next 25+ years.

• James Suckling: Pretty nose of blueberries, currants and blackberries, follows through to a full body, with ultra-refined tannins and polished, caressing texture. Very refined and long. Perhaps the best ever from here. Try after 2018.

Producer Information

Château Haut-Bages Libéral is a certified organic and biodynamic Bordeaux producer in the Pauillac appellation, making Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant red wine. It is one of the 18 estates deemed a Fifth Growth in the 1855 classification of the Médoc and Graves. The modern estate is has 30 hectares (74 acres) of vineyards. These are planted roughly with around 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 25 percent Merlot. Parcels are located in several locations within Pauillac. The largest is situated next to Château Latour, with a smaller section by the winery and chateau, down the road next to Château Pichon Lalande. Both lie relatively close to the Gironde estuary, while the third plot lies further inland near Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste. Soils are mainly deep gravel over a limestone base. Organic and Biodynamic certification was achieved in 2019. The wine is made and 16 stainless steel tanks and 16 cement vats all with temperature control. Volumes range from 4700 to 17,000 liters (approximately 1250 to 4500 US liquid gallons). From 2018 a 20 percent component of the wine has been aged in amphorae. The remainder is aged in French oak barrels, with 40 percent new wood, for 14 to 18 months. Besides its grand vin, Libéral makes a pair of second wines, La Chapelle de Bages and La Fleur de Haut-Bages Libéral. The third wine is Le Haut-Médoc de Haut-Bages Libéral. This can be 100 percent Merlot.

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