Eddie Wolowski, JJ Buckley, February 2013

70% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot. Deep opaque core, with a ruby rim. With its bouquet of ripe cherry, raspberry and clove, this has a great entry upfront, of blackberry and a hint of vanilla. An elegant, finely textured body dances across the palate, finishing with a little mineral lift and gentle tannins that linger, adding freshness and depth. Another dark horse. Drink 2015-2035.

92 -93 points,

James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, April 2011

A balanced young wine, with smoky, blackberry and chewy aromas and flavors. Full and velvety, with a fresh finish.

John Sweeney, JJ Buckley, April 2011

72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot. Planted on 30 hectares, half of which is located next to Chateau Latour. Yields were 42hl/ha. A lovely nose of cassis, raspberry, and a touch of new oak hints that this is a wine of extreme complexity and elegance, and the flavors in the mouth are bright, silky and lively. Tasting great today, as the tannins are supremely smooth and integrated. This is an estate to pay close attention to in 2010 as this wine is tremendous!

92 points,

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, November 2012

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The Haut Bages Liberal has a classic, graphite-led Pauillac nose with fine definition, although it is a little closed at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied and quite caressing. There are hints of cranberry, blackberry and a touch of soy, with a refined finish. What a lovely Pauillac.

92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, March 2013

One of the best efforts from this estate since the 1982, this wine remains fairly priced. It exhibits ripe blue and black fruits, a dense plum/purple color, good acidity buttressing a remarkably rich, fleshy, sumptuous texture, and oodles of smoky black currant and blueberry fruit. Ripe, heady and rich, this wine will probably benefit from 2-5 years of cellaring despite its precociousness and keep for two decades.

91 -94 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, June 2011

Medium-dark ruby. Fruity, bright aromas of red cherry, red berries and flowers, complicated by cedar and graphite. Then light and lively in the mouth, with strawberry, raspberry and smoky dark cherry flavors complicated by hints of white pepper and gunflint. The finish features a lingering floral note and chewy tannins that will need some time to resolve but seem polished enough to guarantee a bright future. This is an excellent, classically styled Haut-Bages Liberal, just a step below the first growths: I loved its balance, refined texture and sneaky concentration, though it might fail to impress those looking for a large quantity of creamy, soft fruit.

92 -94 points,

Wine Enthusiast, June 2011

Concentrated tannins, very rich, very firm, very dry at this stage. There is a more juicy character underneath, offering the potential of rich berry fruits. There's a new wood, smoky aftertaste.

90 points,

Wine Spectator, March 2013

Dark in profile and rather stolid, with a beam of currant, plum and fig allied to a prominent iron shaft that clamps down on the charcoal-textured finish. Showing rather austerely today, but has the length and cut to develop in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2025. -JM

About Winery

The Liberal family established their home near Bages between the towns of Pauillac and St-Julien-Beychevelle in the 18th century and subsequently the land they settled took on their name. They were buyers and sellers of wine, arranging deals between vignerons and the wider market.  Their long involvement with the wine trade in France carried on through the centuries until after neglect and scandal in the 20th century, the Chateau fell into the hands of Jacques Merlaut, who added the chateau and estate to his already large portfolio of French properties.

The average age of the vines at Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal is 35 years and the older vines are being systematically replaced individually rather than en masse.  The vineyards are planted with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a spattering of Merlot and Petit Verdot. The Chateau produces around 9000 cases a year and is generally referred to as one of the worthiest of the fifth growth Pauillac wines.

Shipping Details

This item ships in Fall 2013

Need it faster? Call us now at (888) 859-4637 for special arrangements.

Free storage available. We offer free 6 months storage for any wine purchased at JJ Buckley. We highly recommend storing your wines during the summer months to avoid heat damage during shipment.

For a shipping quote, add this product to your shopping cart. From there you will be able to enter a zipcode and get a detailed quote. For full details on our shipping policies, click here.