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Wenlock Cellars

Le Haut-Médoc de Haut-Bages Libéral, AOP Haut-Médoc 2016

Le Haut-Médoc de Haut-Bages Libéral, AOP Haut-Médoc 2016

£21.50
£21.50
Sale Sold out
Taxes included.

Fine, elegant claret and a great introduction to the wines of this 5th Grand Cru Classé estate in Pauillac.

Production

Currently in conversion to organic and biodynamic farming, this 8 hectare vineyard comprising clay and limestone soils lies to the north of Pauillac. The wine spends 18 to 24 days fermenting in stainless steel before aging in oak barrels for 12 months.

Tasting notes

The style is fresh and elegant, more subtle than you might expect for such a warm year with fine, linear fruit and supple tannins.

Food match

Great with red meats served with fruity sauces. If you're feeling retro, try roast duck with cherries.


  • ABV

    13%

  • Bottle Size

    75cl

  • Region/Country

    Bordeaux, France

  • Grape

    Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 40%

  • Features

    Sustainable

  • Closure

    Cork

  • Winemaker

    Eric Boissenot

  • Appellation

    AOP Haut-Médoc

  • Allergen info

    Contains sulphites and no other allergens

    Château Haut-Bages Libéral

    France

    Meet the Producer

    With Château Haut-Bages, quite simply, the "Haut-Bages" part of the name comes from the fact that the estate sits on the highest part of the lieu-dit of Bages, with "Libéral" being the name of the family who acquired it in the 1700s. By the 1800s the winemaking had grown significantly in prestige and reputation being awarded the status of Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification. Subsequently, after years of passing through the hands of different owners, it made its way to Jacques Merlaut who bequethed it to his grand-daugther Claire Villars-Lurton in 2000. This is where things get truly interesting, as Claire has been making a name for herself over the years and is particularly known for her laser focus on sustainability and biodiversity. In 2022, Decanter described her as "one of Bordeaux's most exciting winemakers, leading the way in agroforestry and agroecology as another way to create healthier vines for the future."

    Together with her husband Gonzague Lurton they run a number of prestigious Bordeaux châteaux and following their philosophy of respecting the land and creating a heritage of sustainably worked vineyards - they now cultivate the largest certified area of biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux.

     

     

    A Note on Sustainability

    Since the 2000s, biodiversity has been at the heart of all the viticultural practices at Château Haut-Bages Libéral. The plots are surrounded by hedges and trees of various species (peach trees, apple trees, maples, poplars, dogwoods, elms, etc.) have been gradually planted in the heart of the vines. The soils are covered by permanent grassing or by seedlings (rye, mustard, clover, broad beans, lupines, etc.). These natural elements keep the soil alive, aerated and fertile and promote biodiversity by attracting a multitude of birds, animals, insects and micro-organisms. Château Haut-Bages Libéral has been certified Organic since 2019 and biodynamic since 2021


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