Castle Haut Bages Liberal

GaultMillau

17 / 20

the1/9/2006

Robe grenat dense, nez de violette, d'épices, de notes minérales ; structure dense en bouche tannins serrés et fondus, vin équilibré. Très classe, belle finale sur la violette

Wine Advocate

85 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1998

The 1995 possesses a bit more depth and intensity than the 1996, but it is also lean and austere. The attractive saturated ruby/purple color suggests plenty of intensity, which is evident on the attack, but, again, the mid-palate is deficient in fruit, glycerin, and concentration, and the finish is dry, with a high level of tannin. This wine may soften with more bottle age and become better than my rating suggests. Let's hope so. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2012.

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/30/1998

Encore un peu corsé, mais massif. Arômes de baies avec des soupçons d'agrumes et de fumé. Corps plein avec des gros tannins de velours, très très long en bouche

Wine Advocate

86-88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

An opaque purple color and a sweet, woodsy, smoky, cassis-scented nose characterize this medium-bodied, moderately tannic wine with excellent definition and richness. This well-made Haut-Bages-Liberal should turn out to be one of this property's finest efforts over recent years. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2017.

Wine Advocate

85-86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1996

The 1995 is an improvement over the 1994, although the high tannin level is troublesome. The wine reveals a healthy, saturated dark ruby/purple color, chocolatey, toasty, curranty aromas, good sweetness on the attack and mid-palate, and then - bam! - the tannin obliterates whatever fruit, glycerin, and charm the wine's finish possesses. I suspect much of the tannin will fall away, but that remains to be seen, thus the question mark.