The 2022 Haut-Bages Libéral is huge and explosive right out of the gate. A rush of dark red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, blood orange, incense, licorice and mocha saturates the palate. Saline notes extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. This is one of the most exuberant, ample wines I have tasted from Claire Villars-Lurton. I would give the 2022 a number of years in bottle to shed some baby fat. Today, it tastes almost like a barrel sample! The purity and primary intensity of the fruit is remarkable. The Haut-Bages Libéral was raised in a combination of 40% new oak, 40% once-used barrels and 20% a mix of concrete and amphora. This is one of the under-the-radar gems of 2022.
97 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2025)
I loved the 2022 Château Haut-Bages Libéral, a spicy, complex, nuanced Pauillac that has both red and black currants, textbook notes of freshly sharpened pencils, leather, and flowers, medium to full body, a ripe, pure, layered mouthfeel, and remarkable length on the finish. It's beautifully done and well worth seeking out. As with many top Pauillac, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it close down in 3-5 years, only to reemerge 10-12 years after the vintage, with a solid two decades of longevity thereafter.
96 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
A classic Pauillac nose, showing ripe currants, graphite, pencil shavings and cocoa powder. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless coating of fine, dusty tannins. The wine is broad, dissolved and long, with good drive. Approachable now thanks to its balance and complexity but will be much better after 2027.
96 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Feb 2025)
Delicate aromatics that have a cool, blue fruit and stony edge. Lifted and lightweight, this has such finesse from the first sip. Nothing heavy or overdone, this is so fruity - pristine and crystalline with all the focus and energy on the purity of the fruit while the frame and undercurrent of minerality comes second. There's power no doubt - hints come in the form of tension, length and slight spice on the finish, but this has the right balance in terms of approachability. Not an estate that generally steals the limelight but this is a joy to drink with signature Pauillac markings alongside owner and winemaker Claire's ability to give her wines such vibrancy and dynamism - something also attributed to the wines being made biodynamically.
95 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2025)
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