Château Haut-Bages Libéral 2015

Soft, smooth, deep fruit on the nose, with the oak being used to good effect. There's a flush of intensity to the black fruits - this is a wine for those who like cassis, cedar and liquorice, all delivered with a punch. It will need time to soften, but this is a good showing from Haut Bages Libérale. In biodynamic conversion. 40% new oak.

The 2015 Haut-Bages Libéral is a bold, direct wine with lovely fruit intensity, good structure and fine overall balance. Today, the 2015 is quite closed in on itself, but there is good depth and persistence through the mid-palate and into the finish. It will be interesting to see if the 2015 acquires a bit more nuance and finesse over the coming years.

Medium/full-bodied with a crisp, overly bright, red berry character, the wine mixes cranberry and cassis, with leaf, olive, herbs, earth and tobacco. This is on the crisp and crunchy side of the red fruit range.

Dark garnet colour, with purple reflections, and a delicate bright rim. On the nose there are subtle hints of vanilla, a touch of caramel and fine oak, and some dark wild berry fruit, it is an attractive bouquet. It is taut on the palate, and freshly structured, with discreet fruit sweetness, prominent tannins, and tobacco nuances on the finish. It has good length and is in a spicy style, but it is still demanding and it needs time.

The 2015 Château Haut-Bages Libéral (65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot brought up in 40% new oak) is an outstanding Pauillac that offers a little old-school vibe in its firm, focused, medium-bodied style and black fruits, earth, graphite and underbrush-driven aromas and flavors. It has impressive purity, integrated acidity, and notable tannin, and should be loved by classic Claret lovers. Give bottles 4-5 years and drink over the following 15.

Deep purple colour, intense in the centre, garnet glints at the rim. Intense bouquet, initial toasted notes followed by plum and a hint of cassis, as well as cedar wood traces. On the palate one perceives (at least with this sample) the oaky presence, the wine has body but also a certain hardness. Decanting potential in 10 years. Can still improve.

(70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot) Restrained, broad bouquet, blackberries, blackcurrant, smoke, tobacco. Velvety, powerful, dense palate with good fruit, plenty of tannin, muscular structure, dark aromatics, long, dry finish. 17/20 2025 - 2038

One sample showing cork taint, another displaying the power of a fine Pauillac, though without the complexity of the very best. It should age well.

Dark colour, normal intensity and slightly evolved. Very aromatic and open nose. Creamy nuance and cedary background. Caressing on the attack, very pleasant and flavourful in the mid-palate, the wine lacks the spring of the 2014 on the finish, but it offers a lovely creamy and fresh flavour, without any tannic edge. Drink it earlier. Alcohol content: 13.5° - pH: 3.59. Yield: 55 hl/ha. Proportion: 52% grand vin.