96

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2023 Haut-Bages Libéral is a potent, virile wine. In many vintages, Haut-Bages Libéral is a bit more pliant and inviting, but the 2023 is a wine that is going to need time to come around. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of black fruit, leather, lavender, licorice, incense and gravel. The 2023 was aged for 16 months in 40% new barrels, 40% once-filled barrels and 20% in a mix of amphora and concrete ovals. I can't wait to see how this ages. 03/2026

93

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2023 Haut-Bages Libéral has a very fine bouquet, black fruit mixed with cedar and pencil-shaving scents that is classical in style, not powerful but nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. Fine weight, driven by the 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, so that there is weight and density on the finish. This deserves four to five years in bottle. Excellent. 02/2026

93-95

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The 2023 Haut-Bages-Libéral is very promising, bursting with aromas of dark berries, cassis, pencil shavings and violets, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and suave palate with an enveloping core of fruit, lively acids typical of this limestone terroir, and sweet, powdery tannins. It's a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot with a low pH of 3.48. 04/2024

94-96+

Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2023 Château Haut-Bages Liberal is gorgeous, with classic Pauillac cassis, cedar, and graphite notes as well as a beautiful sense of minerality. More medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a round, supple, yet focused mouthfeel, classy tannins, and a great finish. It's a stunning bottle of wine that will have some early accessibility yet also age gracefully. 05/2024

95-96

James Suckling

James Suckling

A very pure and beautiful HBL with blackcurrant and mineral notes, like crushed stones, as well as a vivid freshness. Purity and brightness in the center-palate, with essence of cassis and a crunchy minerality from part of the vineyard in limestone. 86% cabernet sauvignon and 14% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. 04/2024