Château Les Carmes-Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2018 (1.5L)
Price: $395.00
| Producer | Château Les Carmes-Haut-Brion |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | Pessac-Leognan |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Sku | 2006736 |
| Size | 1.5L |
Jeb Dunnuck: 100 Points
The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants smoked tobacco chocolate violets damp earth and truffle it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated building style that carries ripe supple tannins gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits and an endearing layered multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical seamless singular beauty!
Wine Spectator: 95-98 Points
This throws off a stream of cassis cherry preserves and raspberry fruit that is pure and bright laced with a racy mineral edge through the finish. Stands apart from the pack for its purity and finesse. Really beautiful.
Vinous: 95-98 Points
The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is one of the wines in this vintage that comes very close to its 2016 sibling. A wine of dazzling intensity and stature Les Carmes Haut-Brion is simply magnificent. Rose petal wild black cherry sage menthol licorice and dried herbs add myriad shades of complexity to this explosive dense wine. As always Les Carmes is done with a fair amount of whole clusters 40% in this case but in 2018 the maturity is such that the stems are very well integrated into the wine's fabric. The blend is 37% Cabernet Franc 34% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Decanter: 98 Points
The march of Carmes Haut-Brion continues in 2018. Once again it stands out for a number of reasons: not least because of its high amount of Cabernet Franc and also because it is made with 53% whole-bunch fermentation - a brave choice by winemaker Guillaume Poutier and one that pays off hugely in terms of balance and lean muscular build. Even without knowing any of the story behind the bottle you would be hard-pressed to pass this wine by. It has obvious intensity but as you sit with it the softness and approachability of the tannins becomes apparent helped by the inviting fl
Jane Anson: 98 Points
This powerful full of complex layers of raspberry blackberry smoked earth rosemary and turmeric spice but running underneath it all is clear salinity and grip. The personality and poise of this wine overtakes the vintage not an easy thing to do in a year that is as powerful as 2018 and on a warm site such as Carmes Haut-Brion. Touches of saffron and salt-licked as it opens sage freshly grilled dried herbs and gourmet espresso and brioche. Enjoyable. 3.62pH and harvest at almost 1% ABV higher than you find in the final bottle. Ageing takes place in a mix of 25% new oak 5% oak casks and 10% amphoras with 55% stems during fermentation and natural yeasts.
Wine Advocate: 98+ Points
The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is composed of 37% Cabernet Franc 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. It was made using 52% whole cluster and has 13.75% alcohol. It was aged in 75% new oak barriques 16% foudres and 9% amphorae. Deep garnet-purple in color it needs a little coaxing before bursting from the glass with vibrant scents blackberry preserves redcurrant jelly mulberries and Black Forest cake leading to an undercurrent of pencil lead black truffles cast-iron pan and charcoal with an emerging waft of violets. The elegantly crafted medium-bodied palate dances with red and black fruits before bursting into earth and mineral sparks. It has a sturdy frame of firm grainy tannins and bags of freshness finishing long and savory. The stem tannins lend this wine a firmness and textural interest which should integrate further with another 5-6 years in barrel allowing the nuances to shine through even more then you can continue to enjoy its slow evolution for a further 30+ years.
James Suckling: 97 Points
The essence of black fruit here offering blackberry and brambleberry aromas with dried flowers and licorice. Crushed stones and some iodine as well as nuts. Full-bodied palate that opens and delivers an encompassing mouth feel of fine creamy tannins. Some whole-berry fermentation. A special wine with elegance and complexity. Try after 2026 but already so in tune.
