Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan 2023

Bordeaux, France

Regular price£456.00
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Case Size
Duty Status
Style: Red Drink from: 2030
ABV: % Drink to: 2060
Packaging: OWC Stock arriving: Spring 2026
Critic scores
97-99 RP, 94-96 NM, 94-96 AG, 98-99 JS
Critic reviews
"Guillaume Pouthier and his team have once again crafted one of Bordeaux's most unique and characterful wines. Revealing aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with notions of vine smoke, orange zest, rose petals and spices, the 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with a powerful, vibrant and complete mid-palate, concluding with a long, ethereal and mouthwateringly saline finish. Sensual, suave and seamless, its beautifully refined tannins are, analytically, more abundant than even those of the 2022 vintage, yet they are so brilliantly integrated as to be near-imperceptible. This blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot is crafted for longevity, though its refined structure will make it surprisingly approachable at an early age. It's maturing 70% in new oak barrels, 20% in 18-hectoliter foudres and 10% in amphorae. A creditable yield of 50 hectoliters per hectare represents a decided agronomic success in what was a challenging growing season."
Yohan Castaing, April 2024, RobertParker.com

"The 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion was picked September 11 to 25 with 60% whole bunch and more Cabernet Franc than usual. Aging was 70% in new barrels, 20% in 18-hectoliter foudres and 10% in amphorae. This offers plenty of dark berry fruit mixed with cedar and pinecones on the nose, very well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, and the acidity is very well-judged. Just a soupçon of white pepper appears toward the finish. This is a much more succinct Les Carmes than the 2022, but it’s extremely harmonious and characterful."
Neal Martin, April 2024, Vinous.com

"The 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is increasingly a wine of seamlessness. Whereas the various components were once easily discernible, today Carmes is most often a wine of total beauty. The 2023 is a bit shy, especially in its aromatics. In other words, a pretty big departure from so many other recent vintages that have been far showier at this stage. Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier explains that he plans to give the 2023 longer aging, around 24-26 months, so he approached vinification and the early part of aging in a more reductive style than in the past. As always, Les Carmes is marked by its strong presence of Cabernet Franc and use of whole clusters, but as mentioned above, those signatures are less immediately evident than they once were. Les Carmes has been one of Bordeaux's stars over the last few years. I can't wait to see how the 2023 turns out."
Antonio Galloni, April 2024, Vinous.com

"This is a fantastic wine and very, very exciting, with purity and brightness to the floral, spicy and blackberry notes. It’s full and deep with agility and weightless. You feel the greatness in this. The winemaker says this is more concentrated and structured than the 2022. Lightly salty. 60% whole-berry fermentation. 50% cabernet franc, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. From organically grown grapes."
James Suckling, April 2024, James Suckling.com

Shipping duty paid to Mainland UK is charged at a flat rate of £9.99 per consignment and POA for Northern Ireland or Islands.

Shipping under bond is dependant on location, but starts at £15 per consignment.

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Critics

AG
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
AM
Allan Meadows, Burghound.com
DC
Decanter, Decanter.com
GM
Gus McLean, AbingdonFineWine.com
JA
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com
JD
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
JR
Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com
JS
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
LPB
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, TheWineIndependent.com
NM
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com
RP
Various, RobertParker.com
TA
Tim Atkin, TimAtkin.com
VM
Various, vinous.com

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