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Les Carmes Haut Brion 2019 75cl

AOC | Graves, Pessac-Léognan | Bordeaux | France
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Critics scores
97 Vinous
Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier turned out another stellar wine with the 2019 Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Elegant, polished and wonderfully nuanced to the core, the 2019 dazzles right out of the gate. Whole clusters enhance a whole range of Cabernet Franc inflections in a wine that is immediately seductive. On the palate, the 2019 is creamy and textured. Plum, blood orange, spice, mocha and dried herbs lend an exotic quality that is so alluring. The 2019 is a mysterious, totally seductive wine that no one who is serious about Bordeaux will want to miss. To be sure, Les Carmes is far from typical, but it is incredibly unique. Its longevity is likely to be measured in multiples of decades. Quite simply, I loved it. -- Antonio Galloni
96 Robert Parker
The 2019 Les Carmes Haut-Brion has turned out very well in bottle. Mingling aromas of plums and cassis with notions of blood orange, warm spices and new oak, it's full-bodied, velvety and seamless, with an ample core of bright, succulent fruit that's framed by an elegantly muscular chassis of ripe, powdery tannins and lively acids. Concluding with a long, expansive finish, it's reminiscent of a more giving, extroverted version of Pouthier's superb 2016. As is now the rule at this address, some whole bunches were retained during maceration, and the wine saw a long élevage in a variety of vessels, from classic 225-liter Bordeaux barriques to foudres and amphorae. The blend is dominated by 42% Cabernet Franc, complemented by 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot.
92 Wine Spectator
Rich and caressing in feel, with alluring cassis, steeped plum and boysenberry puree flavors. Shows pretty anise and apple wood accents that line the finish, where there's a solid tarry echo as well. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2035. 3,300 cases made. — JM
Producer
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
One of the jewels of the Bordeaux wine country, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion has nearly five hectares of vines in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. It is located just southwest of the city of Bordeaux, like its neighbor, Château Haut-Brion. From 1584 to 1789, Les Carmes Haut-Brion belonged to the Carmelite religious order, which accounts for the origin of its name. After the French Revolution, the property was acquired by Bordeaux négociants, the Chantecaille family, and then sold in late 2010 to Patrimoniale du Groupe Pichet, who were seeking to diversify. Surrounded by the city, the property benefits from a mild microclimate, one that is less susceptible to frost and more conductive to ripening. Its unique holding is split by the Le Peugue stream, which is now home to Les Carmes Haut-Brion’s brand-new cellar. Completed in 2016, the new cellar was designed by the famous Philippe Starck, and talented architect, Luc Arsène-Henry, the symbolic structure spreads over 2,000 meters squared despite its seemingly small exterior. Using matrix concrete, glass and metal, the building stands 4-levels tall - accommodating both the barrel cellar, and the under-water castle cellar, as well as the grape harvest-reception-room, the tasting room, and their impressive terrace - that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire estate. Its boldly inspired shape cuts through the water evoking Bordeaux’s past time – when the great wines were all transported by boat. Complemented by its reflective walls - the urban terroir and natural light are beautifully mirrored in its façade - making the new cellar a harmonious naturally inspired structure.