Top quality at a very favorable price!

Le C. des Carmes Haut-Brion is the second wine of the most sought-after Château of the moment: Château Les Carmes Haut Brion. The Le C des Carmes from this innovative producer is almost as sought after as its neighbors La Mission and Haut Brion, but at a much more favorable price! Intense and elegant in taste, with melting tannins and a mineral spiciness. Made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon (62%) met Merlot (36%) and a little bit Petit Verdot (2%) it has a delicious taste of dark fruit, chocolate and rose petals. A great addition to the wine cellar!

Tasting note Le C. des Carmes Haut-Brion

In the glass, the wine is deep ruby ​​red with a bright purple rim. The nose is restrained yet immensely complex. Dark aromas of blueberries, cherries, plums, and rose petals. Dark chocolate and a spicy touch of black pepper, coffee, and licorice. On the palate, the wine is powerful and full-bodied with an elegant structure. Juicy in the mouth with the necessary grip and elegant acidity. Beautifully mineral and a hint of orange peel in the long, lingering finish. Pair this wine with red meat, grilled dishes, or mature cheeses. Best enjoyed from about 5 years after the vintage and can certainly be aged for 20 years after the vintage.

Vinification

The grapes for this Le C. des Carmes grow in the vineyards of the former Château Le Thil in Pessac-Léognan, ten zuiden van de stad Bordeaux. The soil here is somewhat lighter and contains more sand than in the Medoc. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand. Unique to Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the use of the whole bunch during fermentation. This makes them one of the region's greatest innovators. Vinification follows the harvest with fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Subsequently, the wine ages for 18 to 24 months in young oak barrels, 30% of which are new. After wood aging, the wine ages further in concrete vats.

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

In 1584, Jean de Pontac, Lord of Haut-Brion, donated several hectares of pasture and vineyards to the Carmelite Order. Symbolically, this donation seemed fitting, given the name of the congregation, which refers to Mount Carmel, literally meaning ‘Vineyard of God’. For nearly two centuries, members of the congregation tended the land with devotion, both for penance and for wine production. Following confiscation during the French Revolution, the estate was purchased by the Léon Colin family in 1840. Their descendants, the Chantecailles, made significant efforts to improve the estate by adding a castle and landscaped gardens, among other things, before selling it to Patrice Pichet in 2010. Despite the changes of ownership, these transfers have helped preserve the essence and charm of the location.

Awards Le C. des Carmes Haut-Brion:

James Suckling on the 2020 vintage – 94 points

Vinous for the 2020 vintage – 91-93 points

Robert Parker on the 2020 vintage – 94 points

Jeb Dunnuck on the 2020 vintage – 91 points