Vintage Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 2010 Magnum

Château Haut-Bages Libéral is a 5th growth estate in Pauillac owned and run by Claire Villars-Lurton and her husband Gonzague Lurton (of our other beloved Bordeaux estates in Margaux, Durfort-Vivens). Claire also shares a passion for the expression biodynamic certification has given her wines. The 30-hectare property sits next door to Château Latour; the two are the only Pauillac estates with parcels of limestone soils which gives a certain mineral character to the wines. The estate has three plots that adjoin esteemed neighbours Latour, Pichon-Lalande and Grand Puy Lacoste which is one element of why we think this estate has been a sleeping giant for many years.

The 2010 vintage exhibits a dense plummy purple colour in the glass. The ripe blue and black fruits, along with good acidity buttressing a remarkably rich, fleshy, sumptuous texture, and oodles of smoky black currant and blueberry fruit. Ripe, heady and rich, this wine will probably benefit from 2-5 years of cellaring despite its precociousness and can be aged for another two decades.