Wine Advisor
Les Carmes Haut Brion 2000
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
From bottle, several samples were perplexingly closed and reluctant to open. Yet with aeration, this wine represents the quintessential model of both Graves and Bordeaux elegance. A wine of finesse and depth, it has superb concentration and opulence. Medium-bodied, layered, and lush, with extraordinary aromatic complexity (cigar tobacco, earth, coffee, black currants, and ripe plums/prunes), stunning purity, a seamless texture, and sweet tannin, it will take longer to provide thrilling drinking than I initially thought. At present, it is tight and closed, but aeration brings out its perfume. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Sadly, Les Carmes-Haut-Brion's 10-acre vineyard, a petit bijou (jewel), is incapable of producing significant quantities. Situated adjacent to Haut-Brion, it is a sleeper effort that deserves more attention. Cabernet Franc (40% of the blend along with Cabernet Sauvignon and a tiny dollop of Merlot) gives this wine extraordinary finesse as well as explosive aromatics. Probably the finest Les Carmes I have ever tasted, the 2000 rachets up the level of concentration, opulence, and sumptuousness. My notes read, "a Pomerol from Pessac-Leognan?" Full-bodied, layered, and lush, with extraordinary aromatic complexity (cigar tobacco, earth, coffee, black currants, and ripe plums/prunes), stunning purity, a seamless texture, and sweet tannin, it will provide thrilling drinking between 2005-2020. A big time sleeper of the vintage.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
At en primeur: a gorgeous wine. A seamless silky cassis nose. Very pure nose and palate. Burnt toast and cooked meat. Great complexity with fine depth and balance. Voluptuous sensual wine. Then at the UGC in November 2002: very rich, high-toned nose with notes of cassis and prunes. Very rich and generous on the smooth, classy palate. Raspberry and white pepper notes; structured with well-integrated tannins. Very long. A superb wine, which should last years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This is a slight upgrade for this wine, which seems to be approaching full maturity but is in no danger of losing fruit or declining for at least another 10 years. It is one of the most elegant wines of the vintage, with an ethereal nose of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, and hints of bay leaf and graphite, while unsmoked cigar tobacco and plum also make an appearance in the strikingly complex aromatics and flavors. The wine is medium-bodied, not a blockbuster by any means, but a wine of terrific balance, purity, symmetry, and style. Drink it over the next 20 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I have been praising this estate's wines for a number of years. This tiny treasure, located in a beautiful park beside Haut-Brion, in the suburb of Pessac, is a must visit for travelers to Bordeaux. The vineyard, a whopping ten acres, descends from a sixteenth century order of monks. Lovingly and meticulously made by the Furt family, it is a blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine spends 18 months in 50% new oak before bottling. It remains an excellent bargain. The spectacular 2000 is a great achievement. The size of the vineyard is beneficial as it can be harvested within two days if necessary. In 2000, the Merlot was harvested on September 13, and the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon picked ten days later. A sleeper of the vintage, this dense ruby/purple-colored offering exhibits a gorgeously sweet nose of smoke, damp earth, coffee, black currants, and cigar tobacco. Opulently-textured (malolactic is done in barrel), with stunning purity, richness, and a long, concentrated finish, this may be a modern day clone of the profound 1959, which first attracted me to this estate's wines. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025.
About the Producer
Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion is located in the Pessac-Leognan (Pessac-Leognan) production area on the left bank of Bordeaux. It was once part of Chateau Haut-Brion, one of the five famous wineries in Bordeaux. In 1584, Jean De Pontac, the 101-year-old old manor owner and founder of Chateau Haut Brion, donated the water mill in the manor and its surrounding small pastures and vineyards to the Carmes de Notre-Dame Abbey, officially opening Chateau Les Carmes History of Haut-Brion. At the beginning of the acquisition, the winery only owned 4.7 hectares of vineyards, but now the vineyard has expanded to 10 hectares. Made up of gravel, clay and sand. Planted are Cabernet Franc (39%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Merlot (41%).A small Peugue stream in the winery is the cool stream flowing under the new wine cellar. It creates a microclimate exclusive to Ritz-Carlton and gives Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion the most refined and elegant charm.
1987(2)1999(3)
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