Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 2015
- Producer Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal
- Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- Appellation Pauillac
- UPC 0 15643 50577 5
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Item# 1649-15
James Suckling
94pt
Wine Enthusiast
94pt
Vinous Media
93pt
Tasting notes
The nose is fresh, crisp and exalted aromas of small black berries. A few notes of spices and tobacco distributed in the bouquet a certain elegance. In the mouth, the attack is full and ample. The wine is precise, with firm tannins and well-proportioned acidity. The style is both gourmet and classic. The finish is long and voluminous.
Estate
The name of Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal has two roots. The LIBERAL family ran the property in the early eighteenth century. Brokers from father
to son, they sold the harvest in the Netherlands and Belgium. Their name adjoining to the topographical designation, earned them to be invited
worldwide to the table of political parties of the same name. Over time, these connoisseurs gathered the best soils of Pauillac. Thus, this 5th
Classified Growth in 1855 now has half of its vineyards adjacent to Chateau Latour and the other half behind Chateau Pichon Baron, on the
heights of the locality "Bages", a large plateau in the south of Pauillac.
The property would regain his youth when, in 1960, the Cruse family, owner of Chateau Pontet Canet, another 5th Classified Growth in
Pauillac, acquired the property. The Cruse would launch an extensive program of replanting the vineyard. However, it was in 1983 at the arrival
of the Villars family that Chateau Haut-Bages Libéral really recovered its former glory. Today, the property is run by Claire VILLARS-LURTON and
the vineyard is being certified organic and biodynamic farming.
Vintage
The winter was rainy then dry. The conditions were much more favorable from April. Indeed, rising temperatures associated with water availability of the soil, had contributed to the uniformity of the bud break. Flowering was homogeneous and pretty fast.
From the end of June, Summer became very hot. The water deficit and the warm temperatures allowed the skin of the grapes to thicken, to concentrate in tannins and the pips to evolve rapidly. The drought led to a very slow progression of the ripening throughout July. For cons, the heavy rains of August, helped to unblock the situation and then it was very fast and smooth.
The berries could grow properly but the yield would remain low due to the drought before the veraison.
It was clear that 2015 would be a great vintage. The special weather conditions were favorable to the concentration and maturation of the tannins. They are very elegant. The quality of the merlot was outstanding and the cabernet sauvignon reached a level of tannin concentration and maturity of the great vintages.
The harvest began on September 17th and ended October 5, 2015.
From the end of June, Summer became very hot. The water deficit and the warm temperatures allowed the skin of the grapes to thicken, to concentrate in tannins and the pips to evolve rapidly. The drought led to a very slow progression of the ripening throughout July. For cons, the heavy rains of August, helped to unblock the situation and then it was very fast and smooth.
The berries could grow properly but the yield would remain low due to the drought before the veraison.
It was clear that 2015 would be a great vintage. The special weather conditions were favorable to the concentration and maturation of the tannins. They are very elegant. The quality of the merlot was outstanding and the cabernet sauvignon reached a level of tannin concentration and maturity of the great vintages.
The harvest began on September 17th and ended October 5, 2015.
