Perhaps one of the lesser-known Pauillac estates, Château Haut-Bages Libéral has been producing praiseworthy clarets since the 18th century. Founded by the Libéral family in the early 1700s, their name combined with the estate’s topographic location gave birth to Château Haut-Bages Libéral. Ranked as a 5ème Grand Cru Classé in the famous 1855 Classification, the large south Pauillac estate is now owned by the Villars family. The family, owners of the Taillan Group, and châteaux Chasse-Spleen and Ferrière, have worked tirelessly since the 1980s to rediscover the property’s glory. Under the leadership of Claire Villars-Lurton, the 30-hectares under vine spread across the Bages plateau have moved toward organic and biodynamic farming techniques, experimenting plot by plot since 2010. Today, the property produces generously styled, powerful and elegant reds, Haut-Bages Libéral is their exemplary Grand Vin.