The 2005 Haut-Bages Libéral offers loads of blackcurrant fruit, licorice, spice and forest floor. It is medium to full-bodied, with supple tannin and an expansive, textured mouthfeel and finish. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. Drink 2015-2035.
Tasted at BBR’s 2005/2009 tasting in London. The Haut Bages Liberal has a refined bouquet, timid at first but growing in confidence with dark berries, wild hedgerow, truffle and scorched earth. The palate is medium-bodied with a racy entry, crisp blackberry, graphite and bell pepper with a masculine, tannic, chalky-textured finish. It is a little rustic at the moment, but full of character. Tasted July 2011.
Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Sleek, well-mannered nose. Lots of graphite quality. Quite distinctive. Fruit and tannins well balanced. Quite long and appetising.
Drink 2016-2030
Good ruby-red. Cool aromas of blueberry, licorice and shoe polish. Sweet and lush, but with very good energy to the rather high-pitched flavors of dark berries, spices and licorice. Dry and classic wine, finishing with substantial, slightly tough tannins that call for patience.
Deeply concentrated, very pronounced cassis fruit, smoky and quite briary and lifted by natural acidity. Lively style, good depth and concentration. Drink 2010-25.
Cassis, very pure, undeveloped, fine. Sweetness of fruit, pleasing freshness. Tannins not fully integrated but has richness of flavour. Will be very good. Drink from 2015. Awarded 5 stars.
Came 70th out of 184 wines
This deep ruby/purple-colored 2005 is a classic Pauillac. A big, sweet kiss of road tar aromas interwoven with cedarwood, smoke, spice box, herbs, and black currants emerges from the glass of this unexpectedly precocious, up-front Pauillac. Fleshy, with medium to full body as well as good acidity and structure, it lacks complexity, but offers a generous mouthful of wine at a realistic price. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
This Pauillac, which is often under most consumers’ radar, has come through with a strong effort in 2005. It possesses a deep ruby/purple hue as well as aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, road tar, cedar, truffles, and licorice. Full-bodied and fleshy, with good acidity, a powerful, muscular mouthfeel, sweet tannin, and good structure as well as purity, it should hit its peak in 4-5 years and last for two decades.
Gorgeous aromas of currants, berries, vanilla and licorice. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a wonderful texture. It goes on for minutes. Breathtaking. Best ever from here. Almost 95-100.
Blueish crimson; slightly grey. Intense mineral/Cabernet aromas. No prisoners' style! Quite austere. Very dry finish. Shortage of fruit in the middle. Should age well but will never be the fleshiest. Very very dry finish. Drink 2017-27