Chateau Haut Bages Liberal Pauillac 2022

The great wine Chteau Haut-Bages Libral combines energy with refinement. A true “Pauillac in lace”. The presence of limestone in the vineyard brings a touch of freshness and minerality to the style of the wine, making it unique within the Pauillac appellation 87% Cabernet sauvignon, 13% Merlot.

The 2022 vintage shows an incredible fruit-driven profile, and a beautiful minerality, reflecting perfectly the ideal terroir where Chteau Haut-Bages Libral is located. Elegant and precise.

Critical Acclaim

97 Vinous

The 2022 Haut-Bages Liberal is huge and explosive right out of the gate. A rush of dark red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, blood orange, incense, licorice and mocha saturates the palate. Saline notes extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. This is one of the most exuberant, ample wines I have tasted from Claire Villars-Lurton. I would give the 2022 a number of years in bottle to shed some baby fat. Today, it tastes almost like a barrel sample! The purity and primary intensity of the fruit is remarkable. The Haut-Bages Liberal was raised in a combination of 40% new oak, 40% once-used barrels and 20% a mix of concrete and amphora. This is one of the under-the-radar gems of 2022.

96 James Suckling

A classic Pauillac nose, showing ripe currants, graphite, pencil shavings and cocoa powder. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless coating of fine, dusty tannins. The wine is broad, dissolved and long, with good drive. Approachable now thanks to its balance and complexity but will be much better after 2027.

95 Wine Advocate

The 2022 Haut-Bages-Libral 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.

95 Wine Enthusiast

The wine’s ripe Cabernet is impressive. With rich tannins and a solid density, the wine has layers of fine black-currant fruits. It has a wonderful juiciness that adds freshness to the aftertaste. Organic and biodynamic.