2025, Château Haut-Bages Libéral, PAUILLAC, Grand Cru Classé2025 is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. One of the best Haut Bages Librals I've tasted from barrel. Perfumed blackcurrants, quite dark and true to form with a gorgeous perfume. Aromatics are great. Juicy and crisp, sleek and svelte, definitely quite streamlined but with such soft, velvety tannins that give grip but support the vibrant fruit so well. I love this. Really very classic, muscular but gentle with purity and focus.

This is so precise

all from different coopers

a uncommon sense of rondeur for a 2021

gripping straight away and holding you there

Gorgeous nuanced crushed red rose petal nose

If its élevage remains in the background by the time it's in bottle

it punches above its weight

accessible plummy fruit with notes of violet

and tobacco notes in a medium-bodied

Simply lovely

enveloping

beautifully refined tannins and a long