Château Haut-Bages Liberal 2022

Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Aromas of sweet dark berries, bay leaf, violets and cigar ash introduce the 2022 Haut-Bages-Libéral, a medium to full-bodied, lively and layered wine that's fresh and vibrant, with powdery tannins that assert themselves on the somewhat lactic finish. This is a solid effort from this limestone terroir, though it can't quite match the precision of the estate's 2019-2020 duo.

VertdeVin

Jeb Dunnuck

I loved the 2022 Château Haut-Bages Libéral, a spicy, complex, nuanced Pauillac that has both red and black currants, textbook notes of freshly sharpened pencils, leather, and flowers, medium to full body, a ripe, pure, layered mouthfeel, and remarkable length on the finish. It's beautifully done and well worth seeking out. As with many top Pauillac, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it close down in 3-5 years, only to reemerge 10-12 years after the vintage, with a solid two decades of longevity thereafter.

James Suckling

A classic Pauillac nose, showing ripe currants, graphite, pencil shavings and cocoa powder. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless coating of fine, dusty tannins. The wine is broad, dissolved and long, with good drive. Approachable now thanks to its balance and complexity but will be much better after 2027.