Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan - Rouge - 2023

Rated 97-99/100 by Parker, Les Carmes Haut-Brion once again enchants with the 2023 vintage!

The color is strikingly deep, and the fruit expression, incredibly fresh, develops extravagant nuances reminiscent of the heart of the Saint-Émilion plateau: nutmeg, gingerbread, cocoa, roasted fig, evolving into faded rose. Silky from the first sip, the substance is bursting with flavors. The tension is at its peak, the harmony evident, and the emotion, of course, at its highest!

Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a truly unique estate in the Bordeaux galaxy, an absolute standout. It's not just the urban vineyard or the futuristic cellar that set it apart, but the methodology and mindset that prevail here.

These two principles best define the distinctiveness of the cru. Since the change of ownership in 2010, the estate has been in the hands of Guillaume Pouthiers, an inspiring winemaker who has infused the domain with new energy. It’s clear that this approach is working: the results have been ascendant ever since.

There is first a genuine "listening" to the place, resulting in the best choice of plant material, with a significant proportion of Cabernet Franc. There is the application of biodynamic viticulture and vines cared for like nowhere else. Then there is a vinification process that incorporates a significant amount of whole cluster fermentation, a practice rare in Bordeaux.

This is a wine for aesthetes, a pinnacle of our vineyard!