Château Haut-Bages Libéral 2020

Initially slightly reductive and marked by élevage, then spicy and fruity; a direct attack, a fruit-and-mineral evolution, a long, elegant finish; excellently crafted in the vein of recent vintages.

The 2020 Haut-Bages-Libéral is supple and seamless, bursting with aromas of sweet dark berries, petals and licorice, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate. Succulent and polished, it will offer a broad drinking window. As readers will remember, this wine derives from biodynamically farmed vineyards located on clay-limestone and gravel soils to the north of Château Latour (as well as a parcel of gravel sandwiched between Pichon-Baron and Lynch-Bages).

Dark and brooding, blackcurrant, black cherry and milk chocolate with floral flecks. Thick but so juicy, really alive in the glass, forward and bold, still with bite but also dense tannins, fleshy right now. Herbal, medicinal-tinged raspberries and strawberries and red cherries make up the fruit flavors on the palate. Tannins are super smooth, really harmonious, while still having density and plushness. There are wines in this vintage that make you smile and this is one of them – very charming. The sucrosity gives a tiny bit of sweetness to the cheeks and the acidity is great. I love the savory nature too; the liquorice and clove are well balanced and it really gives the Pauillac power. Very complete, a shining star.

Blackcurrant, orange peel and green coffee bean aromas follow through to a full body with medium, round tannins. Citrusy, juicy and rose bush finish. Chewy and intense. Some old vine character with bark and dark mushroom. Solid! One for the cellar. 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certification. Try after 2027.

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot. Cask sample. Pure and precise, with plenty of energy and drive. Fruit is evident on the nose and palate. Sufficient depth on the latter. Firm and mineral-tinged behind, but the tannins are silky and refined. A Pauillac of a caressing nature. This property continues to improve. Should be great value. (JL)

The 2020 Haut-Bages Libéral was 20% aged in a mixture of concrete eggs and amphora. Blackberry, raspberry coulis and light orange pith scents on the nose, with hints of star anise emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fine acidity, quite strict on the entry with a fine salinity toward the finish. Good length. This is one of the finest wines from this Pauillac estate in recent years and might well provide outstanding value.

Flowers, smoke, tobacco leaf, sweet bright red currants, and forest floor are at the center of the nose and palate here. Fresh, bright, and energetic, the wine is fresh and vibrant, with loads of bright, fresh, chewy, crunchy, dark, ripe red fruits, round textures, and leafy herbs on the mid-palate and in the savory, spice-tinted finish. The wine is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. Drink from 2027-2055.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate rim brightening. Dark forest berries, herbal savouriness, blackberries, a hint of cassis, light floral nuances, inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant and fresh, fine cherry fruit, ripe, supporting tannins, delicate fruit sweetness on the finish, lively style, already wrapped up, marked by a pleasant acidic structure, an accessible, finesse wine with a subtle honey note on the finish.

Coming from the heart of this hallowed appellation (the main vineyard is just north of Château Latour), the 2020 Château Haut-Bages Libéral sports a vivid purple hue as well as a beautiful perfume of cassis and plum-like fruits interwoven with licorice, violets, damp earth, and subtle underbrush-like aromas and flavors. It's medium-bodied and has a focused, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and outstanding length. It shows the focused, elegant, yet concentrated style of this vintage beautifully. Give bottles another 3-5 years and enjoy through 2050.

Restrained start, Szechuan pepper, refined cassis spice and Brazilian tobacco. On the palate, powerful with a creamy texture, fine-grained extract, supporting tension and a muscular body. In the focused finish, black-berry contours, dark graphite and plenty of energy.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: (organic, 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, aged 20% in amphorae and 80% in barriques (40% new barriques)) Silky, dense, fruity bouquet, blackberries, cassis, licorice, mint. Dense, silky, elegant, fresh palate with fresh, powerful fruit, plenty of fine tannins, elegant, silky structure, fresh aromatics, long, fragrant finish.

(Organic, 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, matured 20% in amphorae and 80% in barriques (40% new barriques)) Velvety, dense, fruity bouquet, blackberry, cassis, licorice, mint. Dense, velvety, elegant, fresh palate with fresh, powerful fruit, plenty of fine tannins, an elegant, silky structure, fresh aromatics, long, scented finish. 18/20 2026 - 2045

Pauillac character abounds in the shoulders and muscular construction of the tannins, a little angular at first, giving way to blackcurrant and bilberry fruit, with dark chocolate, crushed rocks and smoked earth. 40% new oak, 30% one-year barrels, and the rest in amphora/cement eggs, 44hl/ha yield. Claire Villars-Lurton is increasingly making this an estate to watch.

93-94

The cru continues to make progress, delivering a well-balanced wine in 2020. A chalky mouthfeel can be perceived, an expression of the limestone soils. The wine is full and flavorful, with fresh tannins that extend a very clean finish.

A nose with spontaneous freshness, reminiscent of an abandoned garden where vegetation slowly creeps over the flowerbeds. Something wild and vibrant, with salty notes of aromatic herbs.

Marked by nuances of graphite, the bouquet also reveals a touch of cedar along with notes of black berries. The wine shows density, fruit and a juicy touch on the attack. It displays good power thanks to fine-grained tannins, while the finish is fruity and persistent. A fresh, youthful wine that deserves a little cellaring.

This is an elegant pauillac, reflecting all the care Claire Villars has devoted to this cru as it transitions to biodynamics. The initial nose shows redcurrant with a hint of violet. The attack is lively and fresh, with tension that carries the wine through to a licorice-tinged finish.

93–95. Barrel Sample. The wine is refreshing from the start. Its tannins underline the line of acidity and lightness that gives the wine a fine structure. It is vibrant and bright yet it is possible to sense the depth of the tannins. Organic.