Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Haut-Bages Libéral is one of the best wines I have ever tasted from Claire Lurton. Dense, powerful and explosive, with dazzling intensity Haut-Bages Libéral races across the palate, offering up an enticing mélange of ripe red-fleshed fruit, blood orange, cedar and spice. Bright acids lend vibrancy throughout a Pauillac I won't soon forget tasting. Haut-Bages Libéral is one of my early favorites on the Left Bank in 2021. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare versus the more typical 40 or so, not a bad result at all for the year given the biodynamic farming practices in place.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

The 2022 Haut-Bages Libéral is huge and explosive right out of the gate. A rush of dark red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, blood orange, incense, licorice and mocha saturates the palate. Saline notes extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. This is one of the most exuberant, ample wines I have tasted from Claire Villars-Lurton. I would give the 2022 a number of years in bottle to shed some baby fat. Today, it tastes almost like a barrel sample! The purity and primary intensity of the fruit is remarkable. The Haut-Bages Libéral was raised in a combination of 40% new oak, 40% once-used barrels and 20% a mix of concrete and amphora. This is one of the under-the-radar gems of 2022.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2023 Haut-Bages Libéral is a potent, virile wine. In many vintages, Haut-Bages Libéral is a bit more pliant and inviting, but the 2023 is a wine that is going to need time to come around. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of black fruit, leather, lavender, licorice, incense and gravel. The 2023 was aged for 16 months in 40% new barrels, 40% once-filled barrels and 20% in a mix of amphora and concrete ovals. I can't wait to see how this ages.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2012 Haut Bailly is quite fragrant and inviting. Dark raspberries, mint, crushed flowers, spices and rose petals all lift from the glass in this feminine, gracious Haut-Bailly that offers considerable near and medium-term appeal. All the elements fall into place in an effortless, stunningly beautiful wine endowed with personality and class. One of the wines of the vintage, the Haut Bailly will drink well for two decades-plus. This is a superb showing from proprietor Bob Wilmers and his team headed by Véronique Sanders. The decision to lower temperatures in fermentation and go for a soft, gentle extraction, along with strict selection has paid off big time.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2014 Haut-Bailly has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and expressive, the 2014 exudes depth and finesse. Ample and resonant on the palate, with striking depth, the 2014 possesses exceptional balance and class. Hints of smoke, tobacco and licorice infuse the deep, creamy finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2014 Haut-Bailly has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and expressive, the 2014 exudes depth and finesse. Ample and resonant on the palate, with striking depth, the 2014 possesses exceptional balance and class. Hints of smoke, tobacco and licorice infuse the deep, creamy finish.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)

Griottle cherry, deeply fruited, blackberry and raspberry, edges of pomegranate, tobacco leaf, rosemary, cigar box and cedar, with a core of spiced sage and rosemary. The first modern vintage to have Petit Verdot in any great quantity (there has always been a handful from the library plot of century-old vines but in quantities that are too small to be recorded as part of the blend). Harvest September 15 to October 8. Denis Dubourdieu consultant, Gabriel Vialard winemaker.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

Structured, powerful, balanced, a fabulous Haut-Bailly that speaks of the effortless elegance of this place, yet with the concentration and power of the vintage. Great stuff, just a stunning wine. Denis Dubourdieu last year as consultant, Gabriel Vialard winemaker, Véronique Sanders director, 55% new oak for ageing.

James Suckling (99)

Complex and expressive nose, offering red and dark fruit, spices and pepper with wood and mushroom undertones. Fresh mussel shell and a hint of ink, too. Full-bodied with a fine texture and great balance between the acidity and the controlled, tannic structure. Very long finish. Goes on and on. Tiny production, 21 hectoliters per hectare. Try after 2025.

James Suckling (99)

Complex and expressive nose, offering red and dark fruit, spices and pepper with wood and mushroom undertones. Fresh mussel shell and a hint of ink, too. Full-bodied with a fine texture and great balance between the acidity and the controlled, tannic structure. Very long finish. Goes on and on. Tiny production, 21 hectoliters per hectare. Try after 2025.

James Suckling (99)

Extremely aromatic, with incredible wet-earth, bark, stone and graphite notes on the nose, then changing to violets, blackberries and blackcurrants. Full-bodied, yet so linear and fine, with titanium tannins that go on so long. Builds and builds then just rolls around the palate through the endless finish. Real Bordeaux here. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, and 4% petit verdot. Exceptional. Better after 2029.

James Suckling (99)

Extremely aromatic, with incredible wet-earth, bark, stone and graphite notes on the nose, then changing to violets, blackberries and blackcurrants. Full-bodied, yet so linear and fine, with titanium tannins that go on so long. Builds and builds then just rolls around the palate through the endless finish. Real Bordeaux here. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, and 4% petit verdot. Exceptional. Better after 2029.

James Suckling (98)

A near perfect example of this wine. Amazing aromas of oyster shells, iodine, stones, smoke, blueberries, blackberries, ash and graphite. Medium-bodied with firm and racy tannins on the center palate, giving tension and stature. The phenolics are thick and silky in texture. Persistent finish that suggests greatness. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Best after 2030.

James Suckling (98)

A near perfect example of this wine. Amazing aromas of oyster shells, iodine, stones, smoke, blueberries, blackberries, ash and graphite. Medium-bodied with firm and racy tannins on the center palate, giving tension and stature. The phenolics are thick and silky in texture. Persistent finish that suggests greatness. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Best after 2030.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2016 Haut-Batailley was tasted from two bottles, the first showing a touch of TCA. The second has an airy and well-defined bouquet of blackberry, graphite and subtle floral aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins and very classic in style, displaying impressive grip. I appreciate the substance toward the finish, and the pencil lead lingering on the aftertaste. This is an outstanding Haut-Batailley. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

James Suckling (94-95)

I can’t remember a Haut-Batailley this tannic, yet the tannins are savory and very ripe with beauty and purity. Full-bodied, chewy tannins and a long and intense finish.

James Suckling (95-96)

Plenty of blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. It’s full and chewy with a powerful finish. Tar and graphite at the end. Solid core of fruit and tannin here. One of the most structured I have had from here. Cazes family making the difference.

James Suckling (95-96)

Plenty of blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. It’s full and chewy with a powerful finish. Tar and graphite at the end. Solid core of fruit and tannin here. One of the most structured I have had from here. Cazes family making the difference.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2020 Haut-Batailley is another Pauillac that appears to be blossoming in bottle. It has a very complex bouquet with pencil-box-infused black fruit that unfurls gracefully in the glass. Quintessential Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, real depth and concentration and plenty of cassis toward the precocious yet controlled finish. Superb. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2023 Haut-Batailley is every bit as impressive as it was en primeur. Dark and quite imposing, the 2023 offers up an exotic mélange of blackberry jam, gravel, incense, licorice, dried herbs and scorched earth. Even with all of its considerable textural intensity, Haut-Batailley shows a measure of brightness, especially in its aromatics.

Jancis Robinson (17)

Full bottle just 1,260 g. Demeter certified. Cask sample taken 2 April. 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec. Average yield was just 18 hl/ha. Aged for 16 months in 300-litre barrels and a 3,000-litre wooden tun. Blackish, concentrated crimson. High-toned nose suggests some subtlety. Lovely supple palate entry – very beguiling and distinctive. Lots of freshness and terroir expression here. The tannins are so ripe you hardly notice them; they creep up on you only at the end. This definitely treads its own path, and delivers what one might call new bordeaux with a fan of subtle flavours at the end. Chapeau.

The Haut Beychevelle Gloria 2016 is a stellar representation of Bordeaux's renowned craftsmanship. Produced by the sought-after Domaines Henri Martin, located in the region's heart, this elegant wine encapsulates the estate's commitment to quality. Fruit for the Haut Beychevelle Gloria 2016 is meticulously chosen from the finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines, marrying these rich varietals offers exquisite balance and complexity. Following rigorous harvesting, the yielded grapes undergo vinification in thermo-regulated stainless-steel vats, fostering a marriage of modern innovation with traditional winemaking.

The maturation in French oak barrels for a year provides Haut Beychevelle Gloria 2016 its distinct, powerful character. Expect a harmonious medley of ripe red fruits, accented by hints of spices and subtle oak nuances. On the palate, you will experience an unwavering tannic structure, punctuated with meritorious acidity, culminating in a persistent and refine finish. The Haut Beychevelle Gloria 2016 is indeed a Bordeaux masterpiece, deserving of your discerning palate.

The Wine Cellar Insider (100)

Not a lot of wines leave me speechless from start to finish. But this wine did! Still deep, dark, almost inky in color, the wine offers off the hook aromas of smoked truffle, cigar box, tobacco, black and dark red fruit with spice box, tobacco leaf and smoke filled nuances. Deep, rich, full-bodied and with this incredible blend of elegance, power and sensuality, this wine is going to age for decades. The wine was made from blending this 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Cabernet Franc.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

A benchmark for what constitutes a perfect wine, the 2010 Château Haut-Brion is absolute perfection in a glass, and you won't find a better wine. Sensationally complex aromatics of red and black currants, scorched earth, cold fireplace, smoke, tobacco, and subtle iron notes all define the bouquet. This carries to a full-bodied, deep, rich, incredibly powerful Haut-Brion that has building tannins, a seamless, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. If I had to pick one wine to describe perfection in wine, this might be it. The 2010 is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, which came in at 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.83. Drink 2025-2100.