Haut Bages Liberal

Château Haut Bages Libéral

Classification: Fifth Growth (5ème Cru)
Château Haut Bages Libéral sits high on top of the Bages plateau with Châteaux Pichon Baron, Lalande, Lynch Bages and Latour at its feet. It is named after the village of Bages and its one time owners the Libéral family in the 18th century.

The Libéral family were courtiers but also had great knowledge of the wine business as they were wine merchants. The Bages plateau lies between the towns of Pauillac to the north and Saint Julien to the south. Haut means high in French and you can see the coastal landscape falling away to the River Gironde from the château's vineyards.

Since 1983 Château Haut Bages Libéral has been owned by the Jacques Merlaut's Taillan Group who also own Châteaux Chasse Spleen, Gruaud Larose, Citran and Cos d'Estournel. The estate is run by his grand daughter, Claire Villars Lurton, manager of Château Ferrièrre, Château La Gurge, and wife of Gonzague Lurton, owner of Château Durfort Vivens. Château Haut Bages Libéral is one of the least known Pauillac estates but produces good wines at very competitive prices. Coming from the stable that it does and given the expertise in the wine making the château's profile is rapidly rising.

The 71 acres of vineyards lie on deep Garonne gravel on chalky clay bedrock. This forms a highly protected crest protected by the powerful thermal regulation of the twice daily tides in the river. Every day the 5 miles between the two banks are emptied and filled up again. This mass of changing air ensures earliness, good maturity, and protects from sudden temperature changes.

The vineyards are planted with 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. This last grape variety is very rustic with a strong character which is perfectly at home in this type of soil. Many consider Château Haut Bages Libéral to be one of Pauillac's purest wines.

Wine Style
Château Haut Bages Libéral's wines are a dark crimson with spicy ,raspberry, toasted notes, leather and wild aromas. They have a good balance between tannin and fruit and are full bodied and silky. They can have an almost toffee cream taste and age well.

Owner: Jacques Merlaut'/Taillan Group (also owns Châteaux Chasse Spleen, Gruaud Larose, Ferrièrre, Citran and Cos d'Estournel)
Château Website: www.hautbagesliberal.com
Oeonologist: S Ruini