New Release: 2023 Carmes Haut Brion, 97-99 Pts "Sensual, suave and seamless” (WA)
“Consistently, this estate delivers some of the most inspiring wines in Bordeaux, and the 2023 vintage upholds this tradition”
– 97-99 pts, Yohan Castaing (Wine Advocate)
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion is arguably the Left Bank of Bordeaux’s hottest chateau. It has rocketed in quality in recent years and is now knocking on the door of its famous First Growth neighbour. The 2023 has just been released and is likely to follow other previous vintages and be an instant sell-out thanks to a massive 97-99 points from the Wine Advocate.
Carmes Haut Brion is one of Bordeaux’s most in-demand wines for good reason, it’s brilliant and has a beautifully pure and refined style that is perfectly in tune with modern palates. The 2023 is an excellent Carmes and, for Yohan Castaing, “one of Bordeaux’s most unique and characterful wines”. For him, it is “a powerful, vibrant and complete” and “Sensual, suave and seamless”. Similarly impressed was James Suckling, who called it “a fantastic wine and very, very exciting… You feel the greatness in this”. Lisa Perrotti-Brown said, “it really makes your head spin in the best possible way!”
Details are below, do take a look and let us know if you would be interested.
2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion
£456 per case (6*75cl OWC) in bond
£461 per case mags (3*150cl OWC) in bond
97-99 points Wine Advocate (Yohan Castaing)
Guillaume Pouthier and his team have once again crafted one of Bordeaux’s most unique and characterful wines. Revealing aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with notions of vine smoke, orange zest, rose petals and spices, the 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with a powerful, vibrant and complete mid-palate, concluding with a long, ethereal and mouthwateringly saline finish. Sensual, suave and seamless, its beautifully refined tannins are, analytically, more abundant than even those of the 2022 vintage, yet they are so brilliantly integrated as to be near-imperceptible. This blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot is crafted for longevity, though its refined structure will make it surprisingly approachable at an early age. It’s maturing 70% in new oak barrels, 20% in 18-hectoliter foudres and 10% in amphorae. A creditable yield of 50 hectoliters per hectare represents a decided agronomic success in what was a challenging growing season. (2024) www.robertparker.com Drink 2025-2065
98-99 points James Suckling
This is a fantastic wine and very, very exciting, with purity and brightness to the floral, spicy and blackberry notes. It’s full and deep with agility and weightless. You feel the greatness in this. The winemaker says this is more concentrated and structured than the 2022. Lightly salty. 60% whole-berry fermentation. 50% cabernet franc, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. From organically grown grapes. www.jamessuckling.com
96-98 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot, Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2023 has a pH of 3.62. It was fermented with 60% whole bunches and it is aging in 70% new oak barrels, 20% new oak vats of 18 hl, and 10% amphorae. It has an opaque purple-black color and needs a little swirling and coaxing to bring out fabulously pure, well-defined notes of juicy black cherries, blackcurrant pastilles, ripe juicy blackberries, and licorice, leading to hints of tar, peonies, wet slate, and black olives, with a touch of Sichuan pepper. The light to medium-bodied palate is airy and refreshing, with a solid backbone of very fine-grained, prancing tannins and bold freshness supporting the pristine black fruit flavors, finishing long and minerally. I had to spend a good 15 minutes with this wine to allow it to grow: it is incredibly tight to begin but expands to become something powerful. A beguiling 2023 with fully ripe black fruit characters and a paradoxical airiness, it really makes your head spin in the best possible way! (2024) www.thewineindependent.com
Offered subject to final confirmation. Available in 2026/ Offer expires 1st July 2024.
