Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal

Newstime：2009-08-26 07:23:11 Befrom： Writer：

History

The Bages plateau, named for the family that owned this land in the 16th Century, lies between the towns of Pauillac, to the north, and St-Julien-Beychevelle, to the south. Just a short walk through the vineyards to the south of Pauillac is the village of Bages itself, situated on a gravelly rise which although not of great altitude, in this coastal landscape of gently rolling gravel mounds it affords as good a view over the Gironde as you are likely to find. Closely dotted around there are numerous chateaux and vineyards that clearly declare this rare vantage point as their home; Lynch-Bages, Croizet-Bages, Cordeillan-Bages, Haut-Bages-Averous and, of course, Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral. The prefix Haut describes the estate's position at the top of the plateau, very close to the highest point of the commune, whereas Libéral tells us a little of the chateau's originators.The Libéral family established this as their home in the 18th Century, and consequently gave their name to the estate. They were courtiers, buyers and sellers of wines, broking deals between lordly vignerons and the market. As such they had great knowledge of the wine business. Clearly by the mid-19th Century the wine had a presence and a track record on the place, as the 1855 classification saw it ranked as a Cinquième Cru Classé.Despite this promise over the ensuing century the property fell into a state of neglect, not an uncommon tale in this region at the time, compounded by vineyard disease, war and economic depression. It was not until 1960 that there was any sign of hope, when the property was purchased by the Société Civile Charreules, an operation under the control of the famous Cruse dynasty. Unusually, during the decade that followed some of the Haut-Bages-Libéral vineyards that adjoined those of Pontet-Canet were cleaved off, and incorporated into the latter estate, which was also under Cruse ownership at the time, but otherwise this change of ownership was a step in the right direction. There was at least investment, as the new owners replanted some of the vineyards, and erected winery buildings and installed new equipment, although in part this was in response to the need to begin chateau-bottling rather than to ratchet up the quality.

The Cruse family sold Pontet-Canet following the scandal of the early 1970s, and in 1982 Haut-Bages-Libéral went the same way. Competition to purchase the property, which has vineyards adjacent to some of the most famous in the commune, was stiff, but the eventual winner was Jacques Merlaut, who added the chateau and estate to his expanding portfolio of properties that went under the title of the Taillan Group. He already owned Chasse-Spleen, and to these two the family subsequently added Gruaud-Larose, Ferrière, Citran and La Gurgue; The estate was run during the 80s and early 90s by Bernadette Villars and, since her death, has been run by her daughter, (Merlaut's granddaughter),Claire Villars, and all the properties have enjoyed her dynamic, revitalizing presence.
Nowadays’ Owner: SC Château Haut Bages Libéral
Administrator: Claire Villars
Technique Information
Location: Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral’s position at the top of the Bages plateau lies between the towns of Pauillac, to the north, and St-Julien-Beychevelle, to the south.
Appellation: Appellation Pauillac Controlee
Neighboring Chateau: Chateau Latour(1st Growth of Pauillac in1855)

Acreage: 28 ha.
Soil: Garonne gravel on chalky clay substratum
Grape Varietals: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17 % Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Average age of vines: 30 years
Cultivation density: 10,000 vines per hectare
Viticulture: Traditional method (ploughing, clearing soil from around young vines to ease pruning). Harvest by hand
Winemaking: Vinification in stainless steel vat with temperature control by thermal pipe; Length of vating between three weeks and one month; Malolactic fermentation in barrels(25%); Traditional ageing around 16-18 months in oak barrels (40% new oak barrels each year); Fining in barrel with white of the egg.
Yield: 5,500 hectolitres per hectare
Brands:
Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral(First Label)(A.O.C. Pauillac)
La Chapelle de Bages(Second Label)(A.O.C. Pauillac)
La Fleur de Haut Bages Liberal(Second Label)(A.O.C. Pauillac)
Annually production:
Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral(First Label): 9,000 cases
La Chapelle de Bages(Second Label) : 6,500 cases
Character:
Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral (First Label): Haut-Bages-Libéral produces a strong, ripe, rich, very black curranty wine, no doubt as a result of the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Best Vintages: Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral(First Leabel): 1982, 1986, 2000, 2005

Awards: 5th Grand Cru Classe in 1855 Pauillac
Website: http://www.hautbagesliberal.com/
Serving Suggestion
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 75-85%, 15 ℃
Serving Temperature: 17-19 °C
Optimum Drinking and Ageing Potential: 5-15 years, 15-20 years.
Food match:
Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral(First Label):
Beef, poultry, cheese (Saint Nectaire, Edam, and Gouda) pasta with cream sauce, hearty stew, pizza, pork, veal, game.
La Fleur de Haut Bages Liberal(Second Label):
Pair with goose / duck, feather game, veal/ mutton in dark sauce, grills.
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