Wine Advisor
Les Carmes Haut Brion 2014
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Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2014 is a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are being converted to organic, undergoing a 30-day cuvaison with 15% to 40% whole clusters. Around 74% of the crop is matured in 80% new oak, 16% in 1,200-liter oak foudres and the remainder in 1-year old oak. Winemaker Guillaume Pouthier (ex-Chapoutier) has fashioned a bold and opulent bouquet with macerated black cherries and boysenberry jam. But it does not really 'sing' of "Pessac-Léognan", not at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannin on the entry, but then there is a wave of ripe, black, grainy fruit infused with graphite and cedar and it finishes in a bravura fashion with a seam of coconut originating from the oak. I would want to just check how the oak integrates with time by bottling and it may merit a higher score then. It's gonna need a top wine to match the architectural ambitions of its Philippe Starck-designed winery - this is certainly going in the right direction.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2014 Les Carmes Haut Brion has a very ripe, fig-tinged bouquet with red cherries, orange sorbet and faint tarry scents. This has more bravado than many of its Pessac-Léognan peers. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannin. It comes across as more modern in style than its peers, silky smooth with caressing succulent red cherry and blackberry fruit leading to a polished finish. It has very good body and density, though I find much more complexity on the 2015. I remarked that I wanted to see how well the oak integrates with this Les Carmes Haut-Brion and at this early stage, I wait to be totally convinced that all the constituent parts are singing from the same hymn sheet.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
One of the stars of the vintage, the 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is total knock-out. Graphite, smoke, red cherry jam, spice, cured meat, pomegranate and tobacco are just some of the myriad sensations that race out of the glass. Today, the 2014 is gloriously ample on the palate, with remarkable nuance for a wine of its size. The Carmes Haut-Brion has been terrific in two recent tastings. The blend is 54 % Cabernet Franc, 32 % Merlot and 14 % Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in oak, but with some influence of 500-liter tonneaux and 12-hectoliter casks. Simon Blanchard is the consulting oenologist. Tasted two times.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is once again a real showstopper. One of the most unique wines in Pessac because of its high amount of Cabernet Franc, the Carmes Haut-Brion offers up a compelling mélange of dark red stone fruits, pomegranate, smoke, tobacco and licorice. The late harvest has resulted in a deep, ripe, super-concentrated wine endowed with tremendous depth. There may be a little freshness missing, but that is a small critique for a wine that delivers so much pleasure. The blend is 54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in oak, but with some influence of 500L tonneaux and 12HL casks. Simon Blanchard is the Consulting Oenologist. Tasted two times.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion includes 45% whole bunches with around half the crop vinified via infusion. Expressive on the nose, it offers red fruit, rose petals, cola and hints of black truffle, a little more mineralité than previous vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine depth, crisp and taut with grip and muscle on the finish. Yet it is streamlined and focused with ample sapidity, quite elegant after a few minutes in the glass. This is a satisfying wine for the vintage rather than an exceptional one. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion has a concentrated bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and light brine-like aromas. There is just a touch of warmth from the alcohol that detracts from the delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, rounded and supple in the mouth with a touch of white pepper and clove towards the comparatively conservative finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
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.
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