Wine Advisor
Les Carmes Haut Brion 2006
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An elegant, finesse-styled 2006, Les Carmes should put on weight given the fact that it includes a significant amount of Cabernet Franc in the blend. It offers fresh cherry, red, and black currant aromas interwoven with notions of mint, dusty, loamy soil, and burning embers. Medium-bodied, fresh, and pure, with moderate tannin as well as excellent depth, it may merit an outstanding rating if it puts on weight in the barrel and bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2022.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. Recent vintages of Les Carmes Haut-Brion have been impressive, but the 2006 does not have the same level of panache. It is very succulent on the cedar-scented nose that lacks complexity, with volatile aromas developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, supple tannins, clean and very pure, perhaps lacking a little character but very well crafted, perhaps just a little over-polished on the chewy, tobacco-laced finish. A little brutish at the moment, but the Les Carmes may mellow with further cellaring. Tasted January 2010.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A light, rather dusty nose with notes of blackcurrant leaf and cedar. Moderate definition. The palate is better with some supple black fruits, quite rounded, well balanced and simple. A little leafy towards the linear finish with touches of tobacco and liquorice, but this has a nice sweet aftertaste. Fine, though there are better from this property. Tasted February 2008.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the chateau in Bordeaux. The 2006 Carmes Haut-Brion has fine clarity and definition on the nose with blackberry, bilberry a touch of peppermint and sage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation and better balance than the 2001. Fresh and lively with fine tannins, bright dark cherry and strawberry fruit at its core with a little spice and white pepper towards the supple finish. Give this one or two more years. Tasted November 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Another beautiful example of minerality, finesse, elegance, and complexity, this earthy, spicy 2006 exhibits sweet raspberry and red currant fruit accompanied by hints of barbecue smoke and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, pure, and not terribly powerful, it is built around delicacy and purity. Give it 2-4 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 15 years.
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)2000(2)2002(1)2003(1)2004(3)2005(1)
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