2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion - Pessac-Leognan AC

Decanter.com – 97 pts – GH: *Extremely floral nose; peony, iris, rose, expressive and aromatic with black fruits too, liquorice, dark fruit, cedar, some black chocolate and coffee bitterness on the nose too. Smooth and supple, nicely weighted in the mouth, forward, grippy and bright with a soft chew - really quite polished and pristine. Seamlessly integrated with the acidity balancing the tannins and the ripe fruit with some mineral wet stone undercurrents and slight bitter liquorice and grapefruit skin on the finish. It’s a little serious, but certainly polished with a soft chew of strawberry and raspberry and stoney-edged tannins giving excellent terroir signature. Ripe, fresh, clean, fragrant, sleek and streamlined. It has a lovely style and lots of finesse from winemaker Guillaume Pouthier. Harvest 11-25 September, 60% whole bunch fermentation taking the alcohol down from 14.3% at picking to 13.5%. 3.62pH.* - 04/2024

Falstaff Magazin – 97 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Sehr feine Würze, dunkle Beerenfrucht, frische Herzkirschen, Brombeerkonfit, zartes Nugat, mineralischer Touch, sehr facttenreiches Bukett. Komplex, stoffig, rote Kirschen, seidige Tannine, saliner Abgang, ein sehr finessenreich, ein dynamischer Wein mit enormen Trinkanimo, große Frische, salzig und anregend, sicheres Reifepotenzial.* - 05/2024

Vinum Magazin – 99/100 pts: *Einmal mehr macht dieser Wein sprachlos, brillant; ungemein tiefgründig, floral, Veilchen, Iris, Koriander, zitrische Noten, ein Gänsehautduft, wie man ihn nur auf Les Carmes findet; der Gaumen ist dicht, konzentriert, dabei federleicht, schwebt über der Zunge, die Tannine sind perfekt, seidig, grandioser Spannungsbogen, fast endlose Länge. Einmal mehr ein Les Carmes, der sprachlos macht. Wird in jeder Phase seines Lebens Freude machen.*

WeinWisser – 19,5+/20 pts – GL, TW: *50 % Cabernet Franc, 30 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 13.5 Vol.-%, pH 3.62, 60 % ganze Trauben inkl. Stiele, 70 % neue Barriques, 20 % Fuder 18 hl, 10 % Amphoren, 50 hl/ha. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet, zarte blaubeerige Konturen, schwarzer tasmanischer Bergpfeffer und Brasil-Tabak. Im zweiten Ansatz Heidelbeergelee, edle Cassiswürze und Nougatschokolade. Am sublimen strukturierten Gaumen mit ungeheurer Energie, die dem engmaschigen dichten satten Körper eine nicht vorstellbare Dynamik gibt, «ein Paradox» meint Guillaume Pouthier lächelnd. Im konzentrierten langanhaltenden Finale ein Feuerwerk von Brombeeren, dunkler Kirsche und eine erhabene Adstringenz sowie edle Bitterness. Ganz großer Les Carmes, der in seiner perfekten Trinkreife die Höchstnote erreichen kann.* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5+/20pts – JL: *50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. 60% whole bunch. Cask sample. Deep, bright, purple-black colour. Floral notes with a stony Graves nuance. Greater density than Le C. Appetising fruit with smooth tannins, the finish showing the chalky nature of the soil. Plenty of freshness. Already seems drinkable but there is a structure in behind.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – AG: *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.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – NM: *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.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (96-98) pts – JL: *Deep in color, the wine is equally deep, sporting nuances of blackberries, black cherries, flowers, blueberries, tar, herbs, and spices. On the palate, the wine is rich, full-bodied, supple, and deep. There is intensity, purity, length, and vibrancy. The wine is rich, and concentrated, yet, the cool part of the tasting is that the wine is also light on its feet. With all the obvious density, the wine never feels heavy. Although it is mouthcoating, its also elegant, leaving you with layers of crushed stones, herbs, and a wealth of ripe, sweet, dark fruits, with a touch of salty chocolate in the finish. The wine was made using 60% whole bunch clusters, blending 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, 13.5% ABV, pH 3.6. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 20% foudres and 10% amphora. Picking took place September 11- September 23. Drink from 2025-2050.* - 05/2024