February 6, 2025
Haut-Bages Liberal 2022 - Outscoring the big guns
97 Pointed Haut-Bages Liberal 2022
Fresh off the press: Bordeaux 2022 in-bottle scores are here, and we’ve scoured through the report to uncover the best value pick.
“The purity and primary intensity of the fruit is remarkable …This is one of the under-the-radar gems of 2022.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Haut-Bages Libéral, a rising star in Pauillac, has undergone a remarkable transformation under the stewardship of Claire Villars-Lurton. Since taking over in 2000, she has implemented a visionary approach, converting the estate to organic and biodynamic viticulture to enhance the purity and expression of its exceptional terroir. A passionate advocate for sustainability, she has introduced practices that foster biodiversity and resilience in the vineyard, aligning the estate with the highest environmental standards.
Situated on prime gravelly soils near Chateau Latour, Haut-Bages Libéral produces wines that blend classic Pauillac power with finesse and elegance. Claire Villars-Lurton’s meticulous approach in both the vineyard and cellar has propelled the estate to new heights, with recent vintages showing remarkable depth, structure, and aging potential.
The 2022 vintage features an its highest portion of Cabernet Sauvignon yet with 87% in the blend. The results is a wine with both power and precision. Scoring the same as some of the big hitters in Pauillac, the Haut-Bages Liberal 2022 undoubtedly offers great value coming in with a modest price tag and the high 97-Point score from Antonio Galloni of Vinous.
We recommend buying a couple of cases and popping them in the back of the cellar, you won’t regret the decision in the years to come.
Comparison: Pauillac 2022’s:
Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 2022
97 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni
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.