96 Points James Suckling
This has an attractive, expressive nose of cassis, graphite, blue and red fruit and a subtle floral lift. Medium- to full-bodied with impressive depth and energy, it shows chalky, vibrant tannins that bring focus and definition. Expansive yet controlled, with great tension and length. A blend of 86% cabernet sauvignon and 14% merlot, aged in new French oak barrels, concrete and amphorae. Already pleasant, but will evolve beautifully with time.
96 Points Vinous
The 2023 Haut-Bages Liberal is fabulous. Deep, layered and exquisitely beautiful, the 2023 bristles with tension. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, leather, menthol and licorice grace a wine of depth, richness and sensuality. It's a terrific effort from proprietor Claire Villars-Lurton. -Antonio Galloni
95 Points Robert Parker's 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.
94 Points Wine Enthusiast
The pronounced yet velvety tannins contrast well with the ripe black fruits to produce a wine with sumptuous potential. Fine depth and a black-pepper aroma finish and start a wine for aging.
93 Points Decanter
Great aromatics, really quite scented on the nose. Highly fragrant with purple flowers, damsons and rich black and red fruit. Great acidity, more juicy and fun than some Pauillacs with lots of energy and brightness. Really feel the vivacity to this wine, straight and clean, precise, not so much weight, the straight Cabernets are doing all the talking with some wet stone minerality on the back. Friendly, lovely and precise. Approachable, this doesn’t have the seriousness of some but this is well made with lots of freshness, mint, cedar and tobacco and liquorice on the long finish. 3.45pH.
93 Points Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot aged 16 months in 40% new French oak, 40% one-year-old barrels, and 20% amphora, the 2023 Château Haut-Bages Libéral sports a deeper ruby/purple hue as well as a great nose of bright berries, sappy tobacco, liquid violets, and damp earth. Coming from two separate terroirs in Pauillac, it's medium-bodied and has a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. This is a beautifully layered, elegant 2023 that shows the style of the vintage as well as the château.
