Château Haut-Bages Libéral 2022 Pauillac 5e Grand Cru Classé

James Suckling
(96-97)/100 punten
Lots of redcurrants and blackcurrants with some cassis as well as iron, tile, stone and hints of dried herbs. Full-bodied with lots of pretty structure and very juicy tannins. Lively and energetic. Exciting to taste. pH 3.54 and with 13.9% alcohol. From biodynamically grown grapes. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.

Decanter
95/100 punten
Round and smooth, so pure, like silk, just so beautifully textured straight away with clear bite, bright fresh upfront fruit - tangy strawberries, raspberries and black cherries with powdery, chalky, and tense tannins giving both the frame but also a charming appeal. It’s intense but controlled and finessed. Maybe lacking a touch of fruity fleshiness right now but the Cabernet is at the fore, giving the backbone and the seriousness. So well executed -a shining star of an estate with such beautiful pure wines. The pH and alcohol is low with the acidity coming from the chalk and limestone terroir, all well integrated giving an elegant, very drinkable aspect while still having underlying power and direction. Crystalline with exceptional energy. 3.54pH. Ageing: 16 months, 40% in new oak barrels, 40% in barrels of one wine, 20% in amphorae.

Neal Martin (Vinous)
(94-96)/100 punten
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.

Colin Hay (The Drinks Business)
(94-96)/100 punten
As ever the wine is the greatest possible advert for organic and biodynamic viticulture and not just because, once again, Haut-Bages Libéral has achieved the highest overall vineyard yield of the appellation. A glorious hue in the glass – with a radiant lilac rim. This is extremely refined and gracious. Very, very soft for a grand Pauillac en primeur and very much at the summit of the appellation this year. Sandalwood. Candlewax. Bright red berry fruits – wild strawberry, red cherries, raspberry, loganberry and redcurrant. Fruit bonbons The limestone in the soil here gives this added lift and intensity. A pleasing but very natural sweetness. Above all, this is dynamic, the fine-grained tannins seem to enter into the core and create little currents, eddies and whirlpools releasing freshness as they do – and with it the salinity. Cool and lightly mentholated. A fascinating and very dynamic wine that seems to encapsulate the personality of its owner.

Falstaff
95/100 punten
Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Aromas of black cherries, nuances of cassis and tobacco, a touch of fig, delicate tangerine zest. On the palate taut, red berryish touch, hints of liquorice, fresh acidity, mineral-salty finish. Lively, animating style, full of fruit and very well balanced. 

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
(93-95)/100 punten
The 2022 Haut-Bages-Libéral is lovely, bursting with aromas of blackberries and cherries mingled with notions of orange zest, rose petals and violets. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and gourmand, with lively acids and a bright, chalky finish, its low pH of 3.54 reflects a decade of organic farming and the limestone subsoils that characterize this sector of Pauillac.

Jeb Dunnuck
(93-95)/100 punten
The 2022 Château Haut-Bages Libéral checks in as 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot that will spend 16 months in 40% new French oak. It's a ripe, medium to full-bodied, balanced Pauillac with a terrific sense of elegance as well as minerality. Classic Pauillac notes of ripe black fruits, leafy tobacco, lead pencil, and spring flowers emerge from the glass, and it has ripe tannins, good acidity, and solid overall balance.

Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider)
(93-95)/100 punten
Mint-leaf, flowers, plums, and black currants with peppery spices create the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, bright, soft, energetic, spicy, and floral. There is a lot of energy, vibrancy and freshness in this wine. The crisp, chewy, red currant finish is spicy, long, and bright, with a dab of spearmint that comes in at the end of the finish. The wine was produced from a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Merlot. 13.9% ABV, 3.54 pH. Picking took place September 6 - September 26.