The name Haut-Bages-Libéral 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 Libéral referring to the family who owned the estate during the 18th century.[1] The estate is run by Claire Villars-Lurton, manager of Château Ferrière and Château La Gurge, and wife of Gonzague Lurton, owner of Château Durfort-Vivens.[2]
The Libéral 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 Cinquième Cru Classé in the Classification of 1855.[1]
During the next century, the estate's reputation and quality waned, as phylloxera, war, and the Great Depression took their toll. The Société Civile Charreules (owned by the Cruse family) purchased the estate in 1960, and during the next decade, some of the vineyard plots adjoining Château Pontet-Canet were transferred to Pontet, which was also under the Cruse's control.[1]
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 Château Chasse-Spleen; the Taillan Group would later acquire Château Gruaud-Larose, Château Ferrière, Château Citran, and Château La Gurgue. Merlaut's granddaughter, Claire Villars-Lurton, runs the estate today.[1]
Vineyards and winemakingedit
The estate has three vineyards; the largest is adjacent to Château Latour, with a smaller plot down the road adjacent to Château Pichon-Lalande. Both of these plots are relatively close to the Gironde; the third plot is further inland, adjacent to Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste.[1] The soil consists mainly of a deep bed of gravel over limestone affording drainage.[2] The total area under vine is 30 hectares (74 acres), with an average vine age of 40 years. Vines are replanted individually, with the varietal mix being approximately 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.[1][2] In 2009, the final blend of the grand vin was 68% Cabernet, 32% Merlot.[3]
For the grand vin, grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in temperature controlled steel tanks. Barrel aging occurs over 16 months in 40% new oak, with malolactic fermentation occurring during this time.[1]
A second wine is produced under the labels La Fleur de Haut-Bages-Libéral and La Chapelle de Bages.[2]
Technical informationsedit
Informations
Owner
Claire VILLARS LURTON
Winemaking consultant
Eric BOISSENOT
Surface of the wineyard
30 hectares
Soil
Guntz Garonne gravels and gravelly-clay on limestone substrate
Average age of vineyard
40 years old
Density
10 000 plants/ha
Plantation
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Winemaking
Traditional in concrete and stainless vats, whose volumes are proportional to plot
Ageing
40% of new oak, ageing 16 months
Second vin
La Chapelle de Bages, La Fleur de Bages, Le Pauillac de Haut-Bages Libéral, Le Haut Médoc de Haut-Bages Libéral
Visitedit
Château Haut-Bages Libéral is open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgKissack, Chris. . TheWineDoctor.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
^ abcdSuckling, James, Wine Spectator (March 31, 2007). "50 Best Bordeaux under $50" pp. 77-80
^"Factsheet: vintage 2009" (PDF). Château Haut-Bages-Libéral. Retrieved 16 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
External linksedit
Château Haut-Bages-Libéral official site
January 01, 1970
château, haut, bages, libéral, winery, pauillac, appellation, bordeaux, region, france, also, name, wine, produced, this, property, wine, produced, here, classified, eighteen, cinquièmes, crus, fifth, growths, bordeaux, wine, official, classification, 1855, lo. Chateau Haut Bages Liberal is a winery in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region of France Chateau Haut Bages Liberal is also the name of the red wine produced by this property The wine produced here was classified as one of eighteen Cinquiemes Crus Fifth Growths in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 Chateau Haut Bages LiberalLocationPauillac FranceCoordinates45 11 57 N 0 44 56 W 45 199276 N 0 748894 W 45 199276 0 748894Wine regionBordeauxAppellationPauillac AOCOther labelsLa Fleur de Haut Bages LiberalLa Chapelle de BagesLe Pauillac de Haut Bages LiberalKey peopleClaire Villars LurtonCases yr11500 in 2009 including second wines VarietalsCabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet FrancTastingby appointmentWebsitehttp www hautbagesliberal com A bottle from 1985 vintage 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 1 The estate is run by Claire Villars Lurton manager of Chateau Ferriere and Chateau La Gurge and wife of Gonzague Lurton owner of Chateau Durfort Vivens 2 Contents 1 History 2 Vineyards and winemaking 3 Technical informations 4 Visit 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe 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 Cinquieme Cru Classe in the Classification of 1855 1 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 1 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 Ferriere Chateau Citran and Chateau La Gurgue Merlaut s granddaughter Claire Villars Lurton runs the estate today 1 Vineyards and winemaking editThe 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 1 The soil consists mainly of a deep bed of gravel over limestone affording drainage 2 The total area under vine is 30 hectares 74 acres with an average vine age of 40 years Vines are replanted individually with the varietal mix being approximately 70 Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 Merlot 1 2 In 2009 the final blend of the grand vin was 68 Cabernet 32 Merlot 3 For the grand vin grapes are hand harvested and fermented in temperature controlled steel tanks Barrel aging occurs over 16 months in 40 new oak with malolactic fermentation occurring during this time 1 A second wine is produced under the labels La Fleur de Haut Bages Liberal and La Chapelle de Bages 2 Technical informations editInformations Owner Claire VILLARS LURTON Winemaking consultant Eric BOISSENOT Surface of the wineyard 30 hectares Soil Guntz Garonne gravels and gravelly clay on limestone substrate Average age of vineyard 40 years old Density 10 000 plants ha Plantation 65 Cabernet Sauvignon 30 Merlot 5 Cabernet Franc Winemaking Traditional in concrete and stainless vats whose volumes are proportional to plot Ageing 40 of new oak ageing 16 months Second vin La Chapelle de Bages La Fleur de Bages Le Pauillac de Haut Bages Liberal Le Haut Medoc de Haut Bages LiberalVisit editChateau Haut Bages Liberal is open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 30 pm References edit a b c d e f g Kissack Chris Chateau Haut Bages Liberal TheWineDoctor com Archived from the original on 3 June 2012 Retrieved 16 July 2012 a b c d Suckling James Wine Spectator March 31 2007 50 Best Bordeaux under 50 pp 77 80 Factsheet vintage 2009 PDF Chateau Haut Bages Liberal Retrieved 16 July 2012 permanent dead link External links editChateau Haut Bages Liberal official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chateau Haut Bages Liberal amp oldid 1112230892, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
