Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

A small vineyard neighboring Haut-Brion, also saved from urbanization in Pessac, Les Carmes Haut-Brion produces a very harmonious and subtle wine, where Cabernet Franc in particular brings its incomparable finesse. The property was purchased in December 2010 by Patrice Pichet, head of the Patrimoniale Foncière Pichet real estate group. 2016 was the first vintage vinified in the magnificent and very daring winery designed by Philippe Starck and Luc Arsène-Henry. Patrice Pichet entrusted the management of the estate to the talented and perfectionist Guillaume Pouthier, who has raised the property to the highest level.

Decanter

About wine:

Deep and dark, this wine is beautifully floral with notes of violets, irises, and peonies, combined with ripe black cherries, licorice, and dark chocolate. Concentrated yet bursting with energy, it expresses itself fluidly on the palate. Bright red fruits—strawberry, cherry, raspberry—rest on a mineral backbone of salty, wet stones. Crisp but powdery tannins and lively acidity give it incredible tension. Despite its depth, it seems almost weightless, so easy to drink and yet built for aging. Pure, immaculate and vibrant, with no trace of heat—just balance and finesse. Juicy, lively and utterly compelling. A true expression of terroir and a guaranteed success. Fermentation of whole bunches at 70%. Aged for 2 years - 80% new oak, 10% large 20hl vats and 10% amphorae. pH 3.55. 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot. 2029-2050

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Nestled in the Bordeaux metropolitan area, like its neighbor Haut-Brion, this 4.7-hectare vineyard owes its name to the Grands Carmes, its owners until the Revolution, which led to its sale as national property. A wine merchant bought it and passed it on in 1840 to the Chantecaille family, who kept it until 2010, when it was bought by the Pichet real estate group. In 2012, Patrice Pichet doubled the estate's size from 4.7 hectares to 10.3 hectares by purchasing part of Ch. le Thil Comte Clary.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2022 is the best wine bottled to date by this estate under the direction of Patrice Pichet and Guillaume Pouthier. It unfolds in the glass with aromas of violet, iris, dark wild berries, pencil lead, and blackberry. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a deep fruity core, beautifully framed by velvety, precise tannins, ending with a long, salty and fragrant finish. Smooth and harmonious, it was made with 70% whole clusters and aged in 70% new oak. This unconventional blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot marks a turning point for the estate and consolidates its rapid rise to the heights of Bordeaux. 2032-2062

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

By cultivating a distinctive style, defined by bold winemaking techniques that give pride of place to whole bunches, Les Carmes Haut-Brion has established itself over recent vintages as one of the most original wines in the appellation, and indeed in the whole of Bordeaux. The expression of the fruit appears "infused," a term that is very fashionable but perfectly justified here, and the tannins are singularly fine. It should also be noted that the property acquired by the Pichet family in 2010 is based on an original terroir, adjacent to Haut-Brion, which ripens even earlier and is occupied by a significant proportion of very old vines, particularly Cabernet Franc. The modernization of the winemaking facilities has enabled the estate to enjoy a string of successes in recent vintages, following a truly impressive crescendo, which justifies the third star awarded two years ago.

Vinous

About wine:

Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2022 is a majestic masterpiece from technical director Guillaume Pouthier. Dark and uniform in the glass, the 2022 presents an exotic blend of black cherry, lavender, sage, blood orange, menthol, espresso, and dried flowers. It displays extraordinary depth and substance in all its dimensions. Time spent in the glass gives a glimpse of what awaits us in the years and decades to come. The 2022 is a co-fermentation of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot, made from 70% stems that have rested on the skins for a full six weeks. The wine is aged in 70% new oak, 20% 18HL barrels, and 10% amphorae. More importantly, all the elements are so well balanced that nothing stands out. On the contrary, it is the total harmony of the wine that is breathtaking. Magnificent. 2030-2072

Yves Beck

About wine:

70% whole clusters for Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2022 aged in 80% new barrels, 10% large oak vats, and 10% amphorae. What depth, energy, finesse, delicacy, and detail there is in this wine, which shines with its harmony, brilliance, and countless facets, all dedicated to subtlety. On the palate, the wine continues its logic of detail. Each element is in place and an integral part of the whole, with nothing dominating except the sapidity, freshness, and mouthwatering quality. Everything is coherent and consistent, with a breathtaking ability to shine now, making you want to drink the wine, while realizing that it is crafted to last for several decades. Another masterpiece! 2027-2062

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

On par with the perfect 2016, this is an extraordinary taste experience. With an opaque color, the wine offers an abundance of aromatic fruits, incense, curry, flowers, and smoke. The palate is further enhanced by its infinite layers of harmonious fruit that caress your senses with their palette of savory spices, crushed stone, stone fruit, berries, and white pepper. The flawless finish confidently crosses the 60-second mark with refinement and purity. The wine was made from 60% whole bunches, blending 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot. It was aged in new French oak barrels (70%), 20% in casks, and 10% in amphorae. Best enjoyed between 2029 and 2060.