Château Haut-Bages Libéral : Ceres 2021

The finesse and freshness of a certified organic and biodynamic Haut-Médoc red wine

The estate

The Libéral family has reigned over Château Haut-Bages Libéral since the beginning of the 18th century. Over the years, these fine connoisseurs have gathered the finest Pauillac terroirs. Placed in the hands of Claire Villars-Lurton in 1982, Château Haut-Bages Libéral entered an era that revived age-old, sustainable and ethical viticultural practices.

The vineyard

Certified in organic agriculture since 2019, Château Haut-Bages Libéral is in the process of converting to biodynamic viticulture. Biodynamic, agroecological and agroforestry methods guide all the viticultural practices of Château Haut-Bages Libéral. The 30 hectares of vines are grown on Günzian gravel upon a clay-limestone substrate.

The wine

The CERES vintage of Château Haut-Bages Libéral takes its name from the Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility. This Haut-Médoc wine, comprising no added sulphur, stems from an 8-hectare vineyard in a single block and rests on a clay-limestone soil, located in the commune of Vertheuil. Certified organic and biodynamic since 2021, this terroir is managed using agroecological and agroforestry practices and is in the first year of conversion to Demeter.

In order to illustrate the cultivation practices used throughout the production of this Haut-Médoc wine, the label created by the artist and landscape designer François Houtin portrays an utterly natural vineyard.

The vintage

2021 was marked by a particularly wet spring, which had a noticeable impact on the plots of land used for organic farming. These climatic shifts resulted in significant yield losses, halving the harvest compared to the 2020 vintage.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification by plot. Maceration with the addition of a neutral gas is accompanied by daily pumping over. Vertical pressing. Protection of the musts from oxidation by nitrogen inerting during transfers. The wine is aged for 6 months in raw concrete vats, without added sulphites.

The blend

Merlot (100%).

Château Haut-Bages Libéral’s CERES 2021: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

CERES 2021 is the pure and authentic expression of a fine terroir with limestone soils. With a beautiful suppleness, this vintage exudes a pleasant freshness, a pure and fruity aromatic framework as well as a suave minerality.

Service

For an optimal tasting, serve between 16 and 17°C.

Cellaring

This Haut-Médoc wine can be kept in the cellar until 2026 to reveal its full aromatic range.