Chateau Haut Bages Liberal 5eme Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 2015

65% Cabernet Sauvignon
35% Merlot

Winter was, on the whole, rainy, and conditions significantly improved from April. Water supplies were very available just before a hot and dry summer which began in June and intensified in July. Salvaging spells of rain in August gave a big boost to berry ripening, offering concentrated berries which gave a glimpse of a low-quantity but high-quality harvest. The harvests confirmed an exceptional level of ripeness, worthy of the greatest vintages.

This great wine from Bordeaux demonstrates a wonderfully precise balance in the glass. On the palate, which has well-integrated and firm tannins, it offers a rather energetic acidity, which gives a certain freshness to the whole. The aromatic character is sustained by black fruits, small berries in particular, as well as spices and tobacco. Between indulgence and classicism, Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 2015 offers much delight up to a long and marked finish.

A dense, dry core surrounded by blackberry and black-currant fruit promises great things. It finishes clean, clear and crisp.

James Suckling 94
Wine Enthusiast 94