List of products by brand CHATEAU HAUT-BAGES LIBERAL

Set on the Bages plateau in Pauillac, Château Haut-Bages Liberal covers 30 hectares of deep Garonne gravels, classified as a 5th Grand Cru Classé in 1855. Taken over in 1983 by the Villars-Merlaut family and now led by Claire Villars-Lurton — named Winemaker of the Year 2024 by the RVF — the château has pursued organic certification since 2019 and full Demeter biodynamic status since 2021, a pioneering step among the Médoc's classified growths. At Halles Quercamps, we have selected this château for the rigour of that conversion, the precision of its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends, and the rare coherence between terroir ambition and environmental commitment. A Pauillac of real character, firmly rooted in its appellation.

Château Haut-Bages Liberal is a 5th Grand Cru Classé of 1855, 30 hectares on the Bages plateau in Pauillac, fully Demeter-certified and guided with precision by Claire Villars-Lurton.

A classified growth with deep roots in Pauillac

Founded in 1834 in the commune of Pauillac, Château Haut-Bages Liberal was classified 5th Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. The Villars-Merlaut family acquired it in 1983, defining its modern identity.

Terroir: Garonne gravels on clay-limestone subsoil

The 30-hectare vineyard sits on the Bages plateau, slopes facing the Gironde estuary. Deep graves garonnaises over argilo-calcaire and calcaire-crayeux subsoil provide excellent drainage, heat retention and mineral depth — ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The estuary exposure moderates temperatures and encourages slow, even ripening, key to Pauillac's structured, age-worthy style.

Biodynamic certification: a pioneer among classified Médoc growths

Château Haut-Bages Liberal achieved organic certification in 2019, then full Demeter biodynamic certification in 2021 — placing it among a handful of classified Médoc growths at this standard. In 2024, the Revue du Vin de France named Claire Villars-Lurton Winemaker of the Year, recognising both wine quality and the integrity of her approach.

The wines of Château Haut-Bages Liberal

The château produces exclusively red wines under the Pauillac appellation. The range includes:

Château Haut-Bages Liberal — the Grand Vin: structured, precise, built for the cellar, expressing the gravelly Bages terroir with restraint.
La Chapelle de Bages — the second wine: more accessible, retaining the estate's hallmark dark fruit, firm tannins and mineral backbone.

Both are produced under certified biodynamic and organic conditions across the full 30-hectare vineyard.

Why we have selected Château Haut-Bages Liberal

We list Château Haut-Bages Liberal at Halles Quercamps for three reasons. First, the rigour of the biodynamic conversion: Demeter certification at classified growth level demands a fundamental rethinking of vineyard management. Second, the consistency of the wines: the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends show precision and restraint, with no concession to over-extraction. Third, the coherence between ambition and practice under Claire Villars-Lurton — intellectual rigour and genuine passion, rare even in this appellation.

We recommend these wines to confirmed Bordeaux enthusiasts seeking a classified growth with clear direction. The Grand Vin pairs with rack of lamb, roast grouse or aged hard cheeses; the second wine suits a well-hung rib of beef.