Château Haut-Bages Libéral, particularly well-located on a much coveted plateau in Bages. The vineyard has three plots that adjoin Latour, Pichon-Lalande and Grand Puy Lacoste. The soil consists of fine gravel. Most of the vineyard, which was replanted in the 1960s, produces wines that are now revealing their true character.

Château Haut-Bages Libéral, ranked 5th Grand Cru in 1855, stands proudly next to its prestigious neighbours Châteaux Latour and Pichon, reaping the rewards of an outstanding terroir. A terroir that Alain Surtre, responsible for viticulture, and Eric Boissenot, responsible for oenology, are committed to elevate. Accordingly, the vines are cultivated biodynamically and the grapes are harvested manually to preserve the fruit. The grapes are carefully sorted and gently macerated prior to the vinification process, which is conducted in inert containers to avoid imbuing the juice with overly woody aromas. This involves temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is then matured in oak barrels, with around 40% of new wood. The maturation period depends entirely on the vintage, ranging from 12 to 18 months. On tasting, an intense, dark wine with an equally rich bouquet emerges from the glass. Notes of black fruit and prunes reveal a full-bodied, tannic structure. Designed for ageing, it perfectly illustrates the estate’s savoir-faire in terms of cultivation and vinification, as well as the nobility of its terroir. This is an outstanding wine that deserves to be tasted at least once in a lifetime.