Château Haut-Bages-Libéral is an estate in Pauillac on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. It produces Pauillac AOC red wines.

Owner: Groupe Taillan. 

Classification: 1855 5th-growth.

The name: ‘Haut-Bages’ refers to the estate’s prime vineyards in the high (‘haut’) part of the Plateau of Bages, south of the town of Pauillac behind (meaning inland of) Château Pichon Baron, and Libéral refers to the estate’s owners in the 18th-century, wine brokers who also owned Château du Tertre in Margaux.

History: The Liberal family of wine brokers ran the property in the early eighteenth century, selling mainly to the Netherlands and Belgium. In 1855 it was owned by a Monsieur Henry. In 1960, the Cruse family, owner of Château Pontet-Canet (also classified 5th Growth in 1855) acquired the estate. However, it was in 1983 at the arrival of Bernadette Villars and family [via Groupe Taillan I think] of Château Chasse-Spleen that Château Haut-Bages Libéral really recovered its former glory. Today, the property is run by Claire Villars Lurton. She undertook an overhaul of the tool of winemaking and has adopted a new approach to the environment.

Vineyards: 2017 30 hectares (74 acres) of vines. Cabernet Sauvignon 80%. Merlot 20%. No Cabernet Franc. The vines are in two roughly even parts, one bordering Château Latour to the north, and the other on the Plateau de Bages (see above). Günz gravels (‘graves garonnaises’).

Organics, Biodynamics: 2010 First organic trials by Claire Villars on some plots of Merlot. | 2011 First Biodynamic trials on Cabernet Sauvignon.

Certification: 2016 Conversion to official organic status begins. | 2019 First vintage with full organic certification due.

Red wines

Pauillac AOC, Chapelle de Bages:

Pauillac AOC, La Fleur de Haut Bages Libéral:

Pauillac AOC, Château Haut Bages Libéral:

Contact

Château Haut-Bages-Libéral

33250 Pauillac (Gironde), France

Tel+33 (0)5.56.88.76.65 or+33 (0)5.56.58.02.37 | Website: See here.