Château Haut Bages Liberal

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Haut Bages Libéral, a fifth growth, owns a magnificent plot near Château Latour and spreads the rest of its vineyard across the lands of Bages. It has everything to produce a complete Pauillac. M. Bettane classification in 1997. It has consistently produced excellent, underestimated wines since the mid-70s. The vineyard was entirely replanted in the 60s, now approaching maturity. R. Parker's Wines in Bordeaux. . Characteristics of Haut Bages Libéral wine: a dark color, a bouquet of plum, truffle, and toasted oak, its richness and concentration justify great expectations after aging. A spicy nose with notes of game and empyreumatic, a significant volume in the mouth, a silky and ample tannic structure, and persistent. .

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The history of Château Haut-Bages Libéral

The history of the estate dates back to the 8th century, when the Libéral family became owners. Over the following centuries, the estate changed hands several times. In 1864, it was bought by Antoine de Solminihac.

In 1960, the estate was bought by the Cruse family, who were then owners of Château Pontet-Canet, another fifth growth in Pauillac. The Cruse family launched an extensive vineyard replanting programme.

In 1982, the estate was purchased by the Villars-Merlaut family. Under their direction, the estate underwent new development. Bernadette Villars-Merlaut, in particular, worked towards improving the estate and its infrastructure.

In 2000, Claire Villars-Lurton took over the management of Château Haut-Bages Libéral. From 2007, she adopted biodynamic farming and agroforestry, two practices that allow her to express the quintessence of the local terroir.

In 2017, she oversaw major renovation works on the winery and historic buildings. Thanks to these investments, the estate is now able to compete with its prestigious neighbours in Pauillac.

What are the characteristics of the wines of Château Haut-Bages Libéral?

The vineyard of Château Haut-Bages Libéral covers 29 hectares of vines, 40% of which are located around the property and the rest on the Bages plateau. The grape varieties are 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.

The estate's terroir is composed of two main soil types:

- Clay-limestone soils, located around the château, adjacent to Château Latour and close to the Gironde. These soils are suitable for Merlot, as they bring a lot of minerality and freshness to the wine

- Günzian gravel, located on the Bages plateau. These soils are favourable for Cabernet Sauvignon, as they are well-draining and warm. On this type of soil, the plant develops a deep root system. This results in better behaviour in the face of droughts and rainfall

The vinification at Château Haut-Bages Libéral is traditional. The grapes are hand-harvested, with rigorous sorting in the vineyard and on sorting tables. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel and concrete vats, with volumes adapted to each plot. Ageing in French oak barrels lasts 16 months, of which 40% are new barrels.

The wines of Château Haut-Bages Libéral are full-bodied red wines, with an intense and dark colour. They present aromas of black fruits, prune and red fruits. The tannic structure is very prominent, giving the wines a powerful and structured character.

What are the other wines of Château Haut-Bages Libéral?

Château Haut-Bages Libéral also produces a second wine called "La Chapelle de Haut-Bages Libéral". It is made with the same expertise as the grand vin but from younger vines. The ageing lasts 10 to 12 months in oak barrels, 50% of which are new.

The best vintages of Château Haut-Bages Libéral

The best vintages of Château Haut-Bages Libéral are 1986, 2005, 2009 and 2010.

Food and wine pairings

The wines of Château Haut-Bages Libéral are perfect to accompany traditional French cuisine dishes such as roast beef with ceps, turkey with chestnuts or rabbit with mustard.

Château website

https://www.gc-lurton-estates.com/en/chateau-haut-bages-liberal.html

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