Austin Blackwell

9.2

In a great spot if you like savory wines. Fruit and acidity have calmed, allowing a gamey aroma profile of cured meats and iodine to come through. It still has some dark plum and cherry but showing the age and complex bouquet which is quite nice. Medium plus bodied, it has nice texture with an approachable ABV at 13.5%. — a day ago

with Angelina

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2014 vintage. Excellent cork and fill. Decanted with minimal sed and tasted after 1.5 hours. One of the few outlier exceptions (Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pichon-Lalande, et al) that proves the general, big and bold, Pauillac rule. Delicate impressions from start to finish with impeccable balance. Medium body. Plenty of flavors and sensations without big, overt commitments to any of them. Playing the field and we are all the better for it. Drinking beautifully now without any perceived or obvious Scylla/Charybdis pitfalls in the next decade. 01.16.26. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

A Château location with an exceptional terroir located next to the prestigious Château Latour, and among the most qualitative terroir of the Pauillac appellation.
This haut-Bages vintage ’21 has a considerable balance, plenty of velvety notes, and palatable body generated from a blend of 90% Cab Sauv, and 10% Merlot. The wine as overall is significantly powerful, elegant and vibrant, plentiful of minerality and subtle touch of salinity. Great structure and chewing tannins. However, the wine needs a bit more time. Although I decanted it for 2-3 hours, it was still too tight to appreciate the rest of nuances. I would hold it for the V’21 for another 3-5 years! — a year ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2016 vintage. Jean-Michel Cazes (owner of famous Pauillac Cru Classé Lynch-Bages and more recently Haut-Batailley) bought this Minervois estate in 2002. This is the "grand vin", a blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 20% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre. A very spicy concentrated wine that is more about power than finesse. The colour is still deep dark red with hardly any sign of evolution. Intense spicy nose. Bold and powerful with black fruit hidden in spices. Long peppery finish. Take no prisoners. Abv. 14,5%. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2016 vintage. 65% Sauvignon blanc with 35% Sémillon. At the time this estate was owned by Jean-Michel Cazes (Lynch Bages and more recently Haut-Batailley), but the current owners are the Groupe Ballande (Bordeaux négociants who also own Prieuré Lichine and Baret). Exotic fruit and a hint of flowers. Round and ripe with enough acidity in this warm vintage. Good length with impressions of vanilla. Good value. — 5 years ago

Byron Fuller

8.9

Very true. Will seek more. — 7 years ago

Darren Guillaume

9.3

I enjoyed another one of Claire Lurton's wines when last time she was in the shop. Much darker complexion than her Château Haut-Bages Libéral. This 2ème Cru has wonderful acids and balance. I can't wait to revisit this wine in another 5-8 years. — 10 years ago

with Kristy, Uncle and 1 other

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

The second wine of Desmirail ( which is now called Initial de Desmirail, but there is also another label, Château de Fontarney, also available in the same supermarket at the same price, which I assume is the same wine). A bit lighter in colour compared to the Haut-Médoc of Haut-Bages-Libéral, and a bit lighter with only 12% alcohol. Flowery nose, light and fresh, with red berries and tannins that are a bit softer compared to the Haut-Médoc. A simple, decent, fully mature petit Margaux for 10 euro. Surprisingly, much better the next day. — 16 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Haut-Bages Libéral – Red blend – 2022
Pauillac AOC – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Left Bank classicism meets modern precision. A Cabernet-dominant blend at 87% and 13% Merlot that showcases Pauillac’s hallmark structure wrapped in surprising elegance. Certified organic and biodynamic, made by Claire Villars-Lurton, one of the leading women in Bordeaux.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, graphite, cedar, plum skin, and violets with subtle tobacco leaf, pencil shavings, and cocoa. Young, fresh, and layered.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with refined tannins, balanced acidity, and a polished, seamless texture. Harmonious and structured with a delicious, lingering finish.

Food Pairings
Roast lamb, ribeye, duck breast, mushroom ragù, or aged Comté.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced, terroir-driven Pauillac that delivers finesse without sacrificing power. Delicious now, but built to evolve gracefully.

Did You Know?
Château Haut-Bages Libéral is a Fifth Growth from the 1855 Classification, situated next on to Château Latour. The “Libéral” family were 18th-century négociants who selected some of Pauillac’s best parcels, many still form the estate today. — 7 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2019 vintage. Château Julia owns less than 1 hectare of Pauillac (65 are to be precise), situated between Latour and Lynch-Bages. They also produce a Haut-Médoc from 4,5 hectares.
Merlot dominates here (70%), with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Therefore, it is no surprise to find some floral Margaux-like sexiness here. The wine has a solid stucture, but elegance prevails over power. Typically, only 3000 bottles produced. A hard find, but well worth the search. — 2 years ago

Patrick Peters

9.3

I really regret opening this and wish I had kept racked, but the fruit was bright, almost jammy. Light on tannins, alcohol medium, very smooth. Also a great French red. — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2016 vintage. Domaine de l'Ostal is owned by famous Bordeaux winemaker Jean-Michel Cazes (Pauillac Cru Classé Château Lynch-Bages and more recently Haut-Batailley). We can reasonably expect him to not put his name on a bad wine, and this Estobal (the second wine of the estate, the top wine being labeled Domaine de l'Ostal Grand Vin) surely delivers. Dark red. Intense perfume of blackberry jam, rosemary and dried flowers. Mouthfilling layered jammy fruit, with good acidity, smooth tannin and good spicy length. — 5 years ago

Andrew G

9.2

One of the 3 second wines of 5th growth Haut Bages Liberal. Even better than the last time - typical Pauillac barnyard notes. 92 — 9 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1988 vintage. Feminine-styled. Ran into some resistance back in the day with the (re-) emergence of this Château and the massive 85/86 and 89/90 efforts. Eff all that. The 1989 AND 1990 vintages probs the best this Château has ever realized. The 1988 slid in then and performed delicate magick. That cocoa powder and blueberry combo still coming forth with undeniable impressions. Whereas those four “bigger” vintages rocked harder, all four have had more noticeable drop off. This 1988 just doing its best La Mission Haut-Brion/Haut-Brion impression and pulling it off. No rush to crush. 5.13.26. — a month ago

Scott Koles

9.0

Silky smooth Bordeaux with notes of strawberry jam and tartiflette. — 10 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2015 vintage. 49% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. From the Cazes stable (Lynch Bages). Surprisingly light on its feet, especially compared to the Haut- Condissas Médoc 2015 tasted alongside. Floral and elegant, more like a Margaux than a Saint- Estèphe. Ready to drink. Abv. 13,5 %. — a year ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2019 vintage. From 30 hectares in Haut-Medoc, owned by the Quié family ( also Rauzan-Gassies and Croizet-Bages). A fine effort, showing that the Quié family is finally serious about quality, after decades of mediocrity. Much more evolved in colour compared to the 2019 Moulin de La Lagune tasted alongside. Ripe, slightly jammy fruit. Serve slightly cold to keep the high alcohol ( 15% abv.) in check. — 3 years ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Solid older Bordeaux, great color, youthful, of course also showing some of the 1980s “Cordier Funk”, but complex, medium-long finish, lovely older Bordeaux!! (This followed a super-corked 1986 Haut-Bages-Liberal, which was a freaking drain pour!!) — 5 years ago

with Jim

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

This estate was bought in 1988 buy Jean-Michel Cazes (Lynch Bages and more recently Haut-Batailley) and sold in 2017 to the Balland family (Baret). 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged in used Lynch Bages barrels. This 2014 is in a very good place now, but should age well for a few more years. Fresh and elegant, with typical Graves spiciness. Not the most complex but a very solid and seductive effort for the vintage. — 5 years ago

David Harper

9.3

Nice easy drinking €80 — 11 years ago