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Bordeaux
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Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal is a winery in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine produced here was classified as one of eighteen Cinquiemes Crus (Fifth Growths) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.
The name Haut-Bages-Liberal is derived from the estate's location and historical owner, with Haut-Bages referring to its position at the top of the Bages plateau between Pauillac and St Julien and Liberal referring to the family who owned the estate during the 18th century.The estate is run by Claire Villars-Lurton, manager of Chateau Ferriere and Chateau La Gurge, and wife of Gonzague Lurton, owner of Cahteau Durfort-Vivens. The Liberal family settled on the estate in the 1700s. The family's business, working as an intermediary between wine producers and the market, enabled them to build a fortune and acquire vineyard land. By the 1800s, the wine's reputation was quite good, enough so that the estate was classified Cinqueime Cru Classe in the Classification of 1855. During the next century, the estate's reputation and quality waned, as phylloxera, war, and the Great Depression took their toll. The Societe Civile Charreules (owned by the Cruse family) purchased the estate in 1960, and during the next decade, some of the vineyard plots adjoining Chateau Pontet-Canet were transferred to Pontet, which was also under the Cruse's control. In 1982, several years after selling off Pontet-Canet, the Cruses sold the estate off to Jacques Merlaut, head of the Taillan Group. Merlaut was owner of Chateau Chasse-Spleen; the Taillan Group would later acquire Chateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Ferrire, Chateau Citran, and Chateau La Gurgue. Merlaut's granddaughter, Claire Villars-Lurton, runs the estate today.
The estate has three vineyards; the largest is adjacent to Chateau Latour, with a smaller plot down the road adjacent to Chateau Pichon-Lalande. Both of these plots are relatively close to the Gironde; the third plot is further inland, adjacent to Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste.The soil consists mainly of a deep bed of gravel over limestone affording good drainage.The total area under vine is 30 hectares (74 acres), with an average vine age of 40 years. The vineyard is planted to 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot, Petit Verdot 3%.
The blend of the grand vin is typically 70% Cabernet, 30% Merlot. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in temperature controlled steel tanks. The wines are matured in oak barriques (40% new) for 16-18 months. Since Claire Villars has been at the helm, the wines have become deeper in colour and more concentrated, with notable depth of fruit.
A second wine is produced under the labels La Fleur de Haut-Bages-Libral and La Chapelle de Bages.
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