Château Haut-Bages Libéral 2023

A very pure and beautiful HBL with blackcurrant and mineral notes, like crushed stones, as well as a vivid freshness. Purity and brightness in the center-palate, with essence of cassis and a crunchy minerality from part of the vineyard in limestone. 86% cabernet sauvignon and 14% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot. The bouquet is beautifully intense, with chalky, mentholated notes before hints of black berries and liquorice. The palate is dense and creamy. It has finesse and depth, with powerful, spirited tannins. This is a wine that combines fullness and power and can be enjoyed young. But don't forget it has good ageing potential! 2028-2048

The 2023 Haut-Bages-Libéral is very promising, bursting with aromas of dark berries, cassis, pencil shavings and violets, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and suave palate with an enveloping core of fruit, lively acids typical of this limestone terroir, and sweet, powdery tannins. It's a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot with a low pH of 3.48. William Kelley

The mature yet understated fruitiness has become a hallmark of Château Haut-Bages Libéral in recent vintages, with the fresh and juicy fragrances of cherries, raspberries, and strawberries momentarily diverting one’s attention from the power of Pauillac, as if immersing in a garden of floral and berry scents. After a crisp entry, numerous fine tannins unfold, revealing layers and a unique saltiness. With a pH of only 3.48 in the 2023 vintage, the tannins are more pronounced in the finish, which, in turn, highlights the terroir characteristics of the clay-limestone soil.