One of the best examples I have recently tasted from this estate, the saturated blue/purple Haut-Bages Liberal offers up notes of incense, licorice, pepper, and cassis. In the mouth, it is fat, juicy, with a certain succulence, low acidity, and ripe tannin. This may be the best wine produced by this estate in many a year. In spite of its precocious showing in my tastings, the wine actually needs 2-3 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018.

Lots of currant and berry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with compacted fruit and a silky tannin structure. Best of Haut-Bages-Liberal ever. Best after 2009. 10,000 cases made. -JS

Very focused cassis. Huge concentration and intensity. Layered. Though cassis dominates there''s also dark chocolate, mineral, spice and cocoa. Dry tannins.

This fifth growth is punching above its class under the control of Claire Villars-Lurton (whose family also runs Chasse-Spleen and La Gurgue). The wine is foursquare, rich and solid, filled with firm tannins.Blackcurrant fruit flavors, herbs and acidity complet a serious style of wine.