2009 Ch. Haut-Bages Libéral, Pauillac

With its fantastic texture and crunchy cassis fruit, Claire Villars-Lurton acquitted herself with honours with her 2009 Ch. Haut-Bages Libéral. This is a beautiful wine which wears its new oak seamlessly whilst a cleansing freshness and an intriguing earthy complexity add perfect balance. Punching well above its weight, this is destined to be a great value buy in 2009.

Black red, finely concentrated and rather tight black-currant fruit, a certain leafy leanness that is made up for by good middle concentration and length.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - April 2010)

Sweet and oddly floral on the nose...? Plus a note of greenness. Rather simple and austere. Did this really ripen properly?
(Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com - April 2010)

Probably the finest Haut-Bages Liberal since the 1982, this beautifully rich wine has an inky purple color, a big, sweet kiss of creme de cassis, incense, some background spicy oak and forest floor. Its gorgeous fruit, full-bodied opulence, impressive purity, expansive texture and broad, savory finish make for a terrific wine to drink over the next 25+ years.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb 2012) 

Currant and mint, with hints of fresh herbs. Lovely complex nose already. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, racy finish. Solid core of beautiful fruit.
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - March 2010)