2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Second glass coravined for my wife and I over burgers at home (first glasses were 30 days ago). Deep red fruit and crunchy soil. Very high toned green stem and whole cluster nose, nothing like a Bordeaux, again, like the winemaker’s Rhone roots. Next glass in another 30 days…94/100
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Coravin pour at home. Interesting and slightly unusual Bordeaux given the whole cluster. You get your usual Pessac redcurrant and coffee along with high-toned green stemmy notes not unlike Northern Rhone. Still a bit tight. 94+
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G. Pouthier elected best winemaker in France!!! in front of Leroy, Romanée Conti, Petrus, Figeac..... I'm very proud of him and of me too, since I've been advising people to jump on all their bottles since 2014 anyway! I'll put the link below. And advise you once again to buy, especially the 2022 and 2016, the winemaker's favorites and mine too https://avis-vin.lefigaro.fr/tops-selections-vins-spiritueux/o157055-guillaume-pouthier-chateau-les-carmes-haut-brion-elu-meilleur-vigneron-de-france-par-le-figaro-vin-se-croire-arrive-c-est-le-debut-de-la-fin
I celebrated my 60th birthday yesterday (a little late) and my friend Romanée Confit brought me a Carmes HB 2016 to drink with a magnificent piece of very rare beef. Once again, at the risk of repeating myself, what splendor! I then made a wish, it was to live another 15 years while keeping the same discernment, just to know which will be the best between 2016 and 2022? That is the question! (Hamlet III, 1)
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Katie described the nose lie a "sweet field of hay and wildflowers." This will only get better. Intense dark and brooding fruit, a beautiful mouthfeel and sense of lush tannins that yearn to flesh out over time. This is a wine that needs a few more years in bottle, but will reward for patience. Incredible now, but boundless potential for those that wait; W-Katie and Tim in the backyard before the shooting star.
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This is already showing well with a few hours of air. This is the vintage that marks the start of the ‘new’ CHB. Fantastic profiles that are structured so well, you often revisit the glass with each sip trying to put a pin on the profile that stands out, albeit, different every time and in the best way possible. The incredible depth and balance make this so enjoyable.
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My colleagues and I hosted a Carmes H-B mini vertical last night to redefine the odds against the fabulous 2022 vintage. We can't put 100 points everywhere.
Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: Probably the Bdx rising star of the last 10 years. Jean-Marc Quarin was the first to notice this. A new team is working here with whole cluster fermentation, something you usually see mostly in Burgundy. Whether this is the future in Bordeaux, I don't know. Who cares when it works and it works here. The wines have been very aromatic and elegant since 2014. The 2016 was closed today, but its greatness was recognizable. Do not open before 2030
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Une note relativement sévère ce soir, relative à la réputation, et à l'attente de la qualité en rapport avec le placement tarifaire et le terroir mis en avant. Ce soir j'avais affaire à un vin simple, d'une longueur plus que moyenne, avec une sensation d'alcool légèrement trop pondérante. 5 minutes après une gorgée, le vin était oublié. Aucun caractère ! Aucune typicité. En même temps, ce n'est pas un grand cru. D'où vient ce battage médiatique ? Serions-nous dans une nouvelle époque, post-Parker, qui justement devient extrême à sa manière, en sur-notant des vins au profil simplement nerveux ou moins boisés ?
Korken war leicht undicht, deshalb testweise mit Corovin für ein Glas geöffnet. Der Wein präsentiert sich nach 3h Luft in fabelhafter (Früh-)form und fehlerfrei: griffig und mit Struktur, komplexe Frucht, gleichzeitig tolle Länge. Viel, viel Potenzial und macht jetzt schon Spaß! edit: Ein halbes Jahr später ist der Wein nochmal deutlich weiter (sicher auch durch den nicht ganz dichten Korken). Viel Struktur, dicht verwobene Frucht, vor allem aber extrem elegant und minutenlanges Nachwirken. Großes Kino! Korrektur von 94 auf 97 Punkte.
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I can see why this is rated so highly. Has a very unusual profile for a Bordeaux - almost feels more like a Cote Rotie in some respects. This does not feel so young at all and is drinking great as far as I can see. The tannins are relaxed and open-knit. This is so well balanced, there is a ease about it, medium-bodied, cashmere fruit, there is a real lightness, perhaps brought by the unusual whole bunch fermentation and I believe they use some clay instead of barrels in the ageing. Anyway the result is a beautiful, expressive wine that oozes class, with a bright extensive fruit profile. I got this upon release for a steal at about $79 after shipping, no tax. Glad I've one more.
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Tasted after the 2014. Cool, pure, peppery, spicy, floral, notes of tobacco. Very intense and bright on the palate, ripe tannins, very harmonious, just a little restrained. Very elegant, lots of depth, great length. Impressive. Keep. 95-96+
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At the Wine Society Carmes Haut-Brion tutored tasting. To increase complexity and reduce the alcohol level (13.5%) there is some whole bunch fermentation and no second wine. The aim is to have balance, and complexity over weight. Cepage is more like a St. Emilion at 41% Cab Franc, 39% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauvignon. I've had this wine three times before and it keeps getting better as it ages. Typical farmy cab. franc nose gives way to anise and complex fruits. Enchanting. Medium/ light weight and slightly thin finish yet more enjoyable than this suggests. Reminds me of Ausone before it fully modernised its style. Can be found at £140 a bottle and whilst not good value unless you love this style it is worth trying.
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TWS - Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion Tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): Lovely nose, ripe dark fruit, touch of mineral, meaty notes. Medium/full, quite rich, dark fruited, soft tannins, spice, lovely vibrant acids. Long. Really lovely, already starting to drink this should be great in a few more years.
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Coravin 3rd Pour - Wow! Very fruity nose mixed or sour and sweet fruits, sharpness to the bouquet, with slight floral notes in the background now. I can keep nosing this without taking a sip, as it's so refreshing. Still all primary notes. The palate is lovely, with mixed of sweet, sour and bitter fruits, but interwoven nicely. I love the lightness of the wine in my mouth. The finish is moderate, with good acidity which gives a good lift and freshness. It ends with a dry mouthfeel though, which makes you want to have a sip again.
Overall, a wine I will be willing to drink now, but I can really see this developing more beautifully in the next 10 years at least.
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Deep purple in colour. Pronounced nose intensity of green bell pepper, flora, violet, black fruits. High tannin and acidity, long finish and complex. Able to cellar.
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94+. Very primary (duh) and I am excited to see where this goes over the next 15 years. Echo 11/26 Cailles note of a unique flavor profile with pure creamy red raspberry, some savory complexity that is hard to pinpoint a single note on (tobacco? chocolate? herbs?) and precise acidity that brings some refinement.
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First time trying this wine since the arrivage, when it was always one of my favorites. The highlights are the absolute aristocratic elegance, the subtlety, the precision and above all it‘s uniqueness in terms of flavor profile (coming for sure to a big part from the partial whole cluster fermentation). I‘m a big fan - this is a winery to follow.
TN: Absolute killer nose, dark and brooding at first, it opens up with fine, pure red berries, smoke, stems, minerality. On the palate with very pure and fresh raspberries, red currant, some blueberries, crushed slate, smoke, stems, some earthy notes. Aristocratic, fresh profile, very high precision, good intensity, good concentration, yet with a very fine texture with no excess weight and the right amount of creaminess. The tannin structure is robust but with very fine velvety tannins, the acidity is perfectly integrated and the finish is impressively long with dark fruits, smoke and minerality.
Decanting: PnP, good from the go.
Glass: Sensory vs Zalto Bdx vs Grassl 1855. Nose goes to the Sensory - no close race. By far the best precision and harmony, clearly the highest complexity. Zalto a tad behind and with a different, sweeter bouquet. Grassl in between in terms of style and least interesting. Palate: winner again clearly the Sensory (precision, elegance, complexity, harmony), followed by Zalto (sweeter but harmony/acid-integration are subpar) and far off the Grassl (hyper focus on minerality doesn‘t work at all with this subtle, not sweet or fruity wine).
I think that grassy Cabernet Franc nose needs to be understood and liked to be projected to the future as something outstanding. Palate is more assuring for me, but mid weighted and two instead of multi dimensional. It is a very well made wine for sure but I'm missing any kind of riddle or hidden qualities. Glad to have 5 more but no need for me to stock up. Nevertheless curious about the future development. Pnp dark saturated colour.. good acid backbone fine tannins... hard to tell what's missing. Day2: darberry nose with a whiff of menthol more compact palate with slightly bitter fine tannins soily, not unsimilar to La Mission which I gave the same points btw.
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Yes, it lives up to the hype. Right now, it's like seeing the trailer for the incredibly cool movie that will be out in 10 years - you get flashes of what it will be, but not the whole package. I've been a fan since the 2005 vintage, and agree that this is a step up in complexity and depth - there is so much going on here! My worry had been that with new consultants and whatnot, it was going to lose its, well, its weirdness. Shouldn't have worried. This is such a striking, complex, unique Bordeaux, and it's only gotten more interesting. Not that well integrated on night one but on night two, it was approachable. Next bottle in 2024. One of the better Bordeaux that I've had.
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Another amazing wine of this stable. French wine critic Jean-Marc Quarin was again the first one to note that things are changing here with the new owner (Real estate developper Patrice Pichet) who launched a team with wine maker Guillaume Pouthier and consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt. Interesting to note, they use whole cluster and amphora in parts of their vinification, really experimenting and pushing. I already liked this wine back in 2005 when I noted it as a stand out during the EP week. This 2016 is a new benchmark. Fresh, elegant, precise mouthfeel and very aromatic. Not overpowering but with excellent Palate presence. This is exactly how good CabSav blends should be made.
The nose here is quite tight and brooding - it's difficult to get much off of it at this point. The palate is polished with great poise, full of black cherry, smoke, and mineral. I should imagine this will have a good future ahead.
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Coravin 2nd Pour - The nose is floral and fruity, but in a light weightless sense. It really pulls me in. The palate is surprisingly light bodied, maybe on the verge of medium bodied with bright red fruits and acidity cutting through. The finishis long and lingers in the back of my throat. It's so burgundian. Wow! A young wine with the finesse and balance to drink now although I believe cellaring it for a few years will make it even better. It'll be a tough time to stop myself from opening more bottles in the next few years.
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Intense and yet youthful energic aromas with red concentrated berries, darker peel, perfume, light flowers, exotic spices, sweeter espresso and graphite. Good full bodied wine with pronounced fresh mouthfeel. More delicate and leaner than expected. Precise juicy red berries, dust, sweet wood and deep salt minerality. Pure acidity and great tannin structure. Wonderful wine. Probably the best vintage of the property so far? 95 points.
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Very fine and silky in texture. It shows you how much things have changed that a wine built like this is getting blockbuster points from the point purveyors. The fruit is restrained too, and definitely not blockbustery, although it is clipped somewhat by some reediness and very raw-tasting wood. The press doesn't seem to agree on the new oak specs; Decanter reports 80%, TWA 65% - both numbers would seem to deliver enough new wood to defeat the purpose of the small portion aged in amphorae, but usually new oak in Bordeaux makes it toasty, cedary, smoky, sweet, or whatever, and here it just feels like straight wood. On the second day the fruit had sweetened up a little bit but the wood component didn't diminish. It wasn't so aggressive that I'd be worried about it taking over in the cellar, but it was annoying enough to make this less fun than it should have been to check in now, however impressive that texture was.
Intense, powerful yet youthful energy on the aromas with darker concentrated berries, exotic spices, sweeter espresso and clear grafite that impresses. Full bodied wine with pronounced fresh mouthfeel. Precise juicy red berries, sweet wood and deep salt minerality. More delicate and charming, even with tougher tannin structure. Wonderful wine. Probably the best vintage of the castle so far? 95 points.
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Lukket nese med litt parfyme. Rødbær, morell. Mere rustikk i munn med kirsebær, moreller, krydder. Fantastisk dybde med mange lag. Evigvarende ettersmak 95-96
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Decided to open a bottle for fun. Have an entire case and interested to track the evolution of this wine over the years. I probably won't open another until 2026 at the earliest.
Popped and decanted. Left for about 3 hours before tasting.
Wine is a deep cloudy crimson with a purplish rim.
On nose, really complex. Roses, blackberry, tea, blood orange, something hot-spicy like szechuan peppercorn, and a violet undertone.
On palate, wine is sound. High tannin at this stage (of course), medium acidity, medium-high alcohol, loooong finish. Tannins are firm but not astringent/grippy, which bodes well. Great balance - fruit is present on palate and acid is present but not dominant.
This is honestly better than many red wines I have had which were supposedly "ready to drink." I can imagine this wine aging beautifully as it loses some of those youthful tannins and becomes something truly special. But even today this is by FAR the best young cabernet-based wine I have had.
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Solid Pessac, but too young obviously...I was just curious to taste the potential of 2016 right from the start. Great polished tannic structure, very deep, all about primary and secondary aromas. Perfect acidity/balance and . Should be amazing in 10-12 years. 94+
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The foil at the 2018 en primeur tasting at Lord's. I've tasted this wine twice before and only gave it 90 each time. This time it was nearly as good as the 2018 but with the benefit of age. Now expensive at £1460ib a case.
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2016: 99-100 2017: 98,5-99,5 (échantillon) 2015: 94-95 2014: 95-96 2013: 91-92 2012: 93-94 Et le 2018 en primeur est égal voir meilleur que le 2016: 99-100
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Bordeaux 2016 II: A second look at the 2016 confirmed my inital assessment from a tasting back in November: a) they‘re very deep, b) with perfectly ripe, velvety tannins, c) a very good, well-integrated acidity and d) an incredible balance and elegance even at this young stage also thanks to a low(er) alcohol level (than in 2009 or 2015). They‘re outerwordly good and a lot of the wines tasted were quite accessible. In my opinion, they‘re clearly ahead of the 2015 vintage (better, i.e. lower ripeness level; lower alcohol; more elegance). Best wine today was the Leoville Las Cases (98+) on par with the Pichon Comtesse back in November. Honorable mentions for the Figeac (97+), Carmes Haut Brion (96+), the Pape Clement (best ever at 95+) and an again singular Yquem (97+).
Short TN: Even better than back in November, more opened and mellowed, high intensity and precision. Amazing nose. Herbal, smokey, mineral-driven, dark fruit. Well-structured with still noticeable but very fine tannins. Good freshness. Highly elegant, deep and long. This is just great with a very promising future. 96++.
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Arvi Bordeaux 2016 Arrivage (Park Hyatt, Zurich): Lots of herbs with bright red fruits underneath. Great tannic structure and powerful on the palate. Liking this even more already than a few months ago when I first tasted it when I already scored this one 97.
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One of the wines of the tasting for me... Super aromatic, perfumed and seductive... this is all class. Notes of new leather, pepper, sweet spices, dark berries, also some red berries, graphite, lead pencil, mint and crushed flowers. It's medium-full bodied, has medium-high tannin that is incredibly silky and pretty high acidity providing tension. Excellent finish with plenty of depth and freshness. An incredibly beautiful Carmes-Haut-Brion that is all class, silk and finesse. Too bad, it's so expensive now. (96+)
The 2016 vintage UGCB tasting in Amsterdam 2/25/2019; 2/25/2019-2/27/2019 (Amsterdam): Tasted twice; first time a bit shy, a bit stony, medium deep, but there is more behind. The second time the bouquet had far more volume, more power, concentration and depth. The wine just misses the superb elegance of the Haut-Bailly; simply because this wine is slightly rough (at the moment), but wow, if this wine explodes it will break the glass.
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Tasted during SPECS Bordeaux tasting in Houston, the wine was the most unexpected performer in the whole tasting line up that gave formidable competition to the classic heavy hitters. Tons of floral and mineral notes in conjunction with precise fruit profile, the high percentage of cab franc really stands out in an elegant and balanced sort of way. (My friend drinking with me told me it sort of reminds him of cheval blanc) Exceptional QPR for its original release price of ~$75 but not so sure about the price point now as the price has been climbing quickly. 93/94 points today with a possible upside of 3-5 points at its peak.
Nose of great depth, with hints of incense, clove, oriental spices. Large mouth of remarkable precision. The tannin, chiseled, serious, expresses a real notion of depth and extraordinary dynamism. Grand finale on noble bitter. Very Pessac, smoked and balsamic. It has the grace and it is undoubtedly one of the peaks of the vintage!
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The initial blast of crushed rock, salty tannins and pure, deep, red fruits is all it takes to get hooked here. The nose, with its smoky, cigar box, flowers, leafy herbs, wet earth and sweet cherry notes might have started the show, but it is the intensity and purity in the fruit on the palate, with the 50 second finish that makes it all work. This is a star in the making! I am pointing this out because even though this vintage seems to have doubled in price since we initially raved about it, for a wine of this quality, it is well worth the price.
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UGC SF - medium dark, medium body, slightly lighter style, very nice dusty dark red fruit, has richness but maintains some elegance with good acidity, some fine rocky tannins, almost a volcanic note. Leaning more lush and modern but quite delicious.
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UGC Bordeaux (Drake Hotel - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. What an impressive wine. Rich black plum and cherry with excellent density, but everything in wonderful proportion. Elegant and already showing intriguing complexity on its very long finish. 93-94 point potential.
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Bordeaux 2016: A first glimpse of the 2016 vintage at a UCG/merchant tasting. The aromatic depth and the soft and accessible structure are amazing and clearly ahead of the 2015s which were more on the fruitier, riper side but often less deep and especially on the left bank more austere (despite the hot vintage). 2015 seems a right bank year, while 2016 might turn out to be THE left bank year. I’ve tasted some 15 wines only (not all reviewed) with the Pichon Comtesse (98, best young left bank I’ve had to date) clearly at the top, followed by the Figeac (97, so much depth) and Carmes Haut Brion (96, probably the number one underrated and upcoming winery in Bordeaux). Positive surprises were the Léoville Barton (96, pure precision and coolness) and the Pape Clement (so seductive) with great quality/price ratios. Even I’ve bought a ton of 2016s en Primeur I would buy more after this tasting if it wasn’t for 2018 lining up to be another exceptional vintage.
TN: The high proportion of Cabernet Franc (>40%) shows well with a deep herbal, cola, mint, cassis aroma profile embedded in a fine and elegant structural frame. Compared to the very strong Pichon Comtesse and Figeac it needed more time and swirling in the glass to reveal its complexity and sexiness. This Carmes is only slightly behind these two wines but a clearly one, two or more steps ahead of other wines in its price range like the Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fourtet or Haut Bailly. 96+.
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Arvi Standing Bordeaux 2016 Tasting (Dolder Grand, Zurich): Lots of herbal aromas. Dried black tea leaves but also sweet touches of vanilla and licorice. Dark, ripe cherry. Voluminous, full texture and a long finish. Still a decent bag of tannins in there, but rather velvety and well integrated. There is lots of personality as well as versatility. A character wine you‘ll either love or hate. I love it.
En primeur tasting of over 40 2016s last month. Great purity of fruit if a little light on the palate. Now £1450 a case I’m glad I got the 2012 some years ago for a fraction of this as it’s now out of my price range. New Philipe Stark winery has a lot to answer for!
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Long, fresh, graceful, elegant, pure and refined, the layers of silky, cashmere textured fruits just doesn't quit. The wine has a uniqueness of character you can feel, taste and smell. This is a stunner and it still sells for a song. If you are not hip to what is going on with Les Carmes Haut Haut Brion, you should be!
Spicy nose, even some floral elements, red and dark fruit, tobacco, herbs. Wonderfully expressive with lots of depth. On the palate again quite spicy, lots of finesse, generous fruit, minerality, ripe tannins. Very long. Lots of promise and potential. Can't wait to see how this will evolve. 94-95+
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Barrel sample. The wine was dark purple in colour and offered red and dark fruit, oak, vanilla and tea on the nose. On the palate, the wine showed red and dark fruit, oak, spices, vanilla and a hint of tea as well as a very mild vegetal component that added complexity, with medium-level acidity, medium-plus tannin (medium-fine) and very good length. The medium-bodied wine had good concentration and complexity. A good Bordeaux.
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With a real intensity of raw material here, the nose pops with smoke, tobacco, flowers, earth, boysenberry and cassis. As time goes on, you find dark chocolate covered plums too. The texture is surreal. Pure silk and velvet fill your mouth and coat your palate. Concentrated and deep, this has a freshness, vibrancy and purity of fruit that really leaves you breathless. To understand the finish, picture eating ripe and almost over berries right off the vine, while smoking an aged Cuban cigar and you are almost there, if you just add the silky, velvet textures, rocks and stones. The finish sticks with you for over 60 seconds! The wine was made from blending 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that included 50% of the grapes being whole, bunch fermented, the wine reached 13.8% alcohol, with a pH of 3.55. The harvest took place September 21 to October 8. The wine is aging in 100% new, French oak barrels, with 5% of the production aging in clay amphora.
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5/6/2024 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 94 Points
2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Second glass coravined for my wife and I over burgers at home (first glasses were 30 days ago). Deep red fruit and crunchy soil. Very high toned green stem and whole cluster nose, nothing like a Bordeaux, again, like the winemaker’s Rhone roots. Next glass in another 30 days…94/100
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3/16/2024 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Coravin pour at home. Interesting and slightly unusual Bordeaux given the whole cluster. You get your usual Pessac redcurrant and coffee along with high-toned green stemmy notes not unlike Northern Rhone. Still a bit tight. 94+
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2/29/2024 - nywine68 wrote: 94 Points
Vinous Icons of Bordeaux with Neal Martin (Legacy Records, New York City): Bright red fruit, beautiful acidity. Light on its feet but with plenty of flavor depth. Licorice and coffee on the finish. 60% whole cluster (unusual for Bordeaux)
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12/11/2023 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 100 Points
G. Pouthier elected best winemaker in France!!! in front of Leroy, Romanée Conti, Petrus, Figeac.....
I'm very proud of him and of me too, since I've been advising people to jump on all their bottles since 2014 anyway! I'll put the link below. And advise you once again to buy, especially the 2022 and 2016, the winemaker's favorites and mine too
https://avis-vin.lefigaro.fr/tops-selections-vins-spiritueux/o157055-guillaume-pouthier-chateau-les-carmes-haut-brion-elu-meilleur-vigneron-de-france-par-le-figaro-vin-se-croire-arrive-c-est-le-debut-de-la-fin
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12/9/2023 - ggroebli Likes this wine: 95 Points
Klar, balanced, langer Abgang
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9/29/2023 - Ramonee Confit Likes this wine: 100 Points
Si on me demande un jour, quel vin emporterais tu sur une ile deserte?
La réponse est ici avec un hamac et un disque de Coltrane.
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9/23/2023 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 100 Points
I celebrated my 60th birthday yesterday (a little late) and my friend Romanée Confit brought me a Carmes HB 2016 to drink with a magnificent piece of very rare beef. Once again, at the risk of repeating myself, what splendor! I then made a wish, it was to live another 15 years while keeping the same discernment, just to know which will be the best between 2016 and 2022? That is the question! (Hamlet III, 1)
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8/28/2023 - stschutz Likes this wine: 96 Points
Katie described the nose lie a "sweet field of hay and wildflowers." This will only get better. Intense dark and brooding fruit, a beautiful mouthfeel and sense of lush tannins that yearn to flesh out over time. This is a wine that needs a few more years in bottle, but will reward for patience. Incredible now, but boundless potential for those that wait; W-Katie and Tim in the backyard before the shooting star.
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8/27/2023 - 40ozProphet Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is already showing well with a few hours of air. This is the vintage that marks the start of the ‘new’ CHB. Fantastic profiles that are structured so well, you often revisit the glass with each sip trying to put a pin on the profile that stands out, albeit, different every time and in the best way possible. The incredible depth and balance make this so enjoyable.
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6/11/2023 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 99 Points
My colleagues and I hosted a Carmes H-B mini vertical last night to redefine the odds against the fabulous 2022 vintage. We can't put 100 points everywhere.
1) 2022 100/100
2) 2016 99/100
3) 2020-2021 98-99/100
4) 2018 98/100
5) 2014-2017-2019 97/100
6) 2005 96/100
7) 2012 94/100
8) 2013 91/100
(2021 and 2022 tasted on samples)
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5/14/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: Probably the Bdx rising star of the last 10 years. Jean-Marc Quarin was the first to notice this. A new team is working here with whole cluster fermentation, something you usually see mostly in Burgundy. Whether this is the future in Bordeaux, I don't know. Who cares when it works and it works here. The wines have been very aromatic and elegant since 2014. The 2016 was closed today, but its greatness was recognizable. Do not open before 2030
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2/14/2023 - Padawine wrote: 89 Points
Une note relativement sévère ce soir, relative à la réputation, et à l'attente de la qualité en rapport avec le placement tarifaire et le terroir mis en avant.
Ce soir j'avais affaire à un vin simple, d'une longueur plus que moyenne, avec une sensation d'alcool légèrement trop pondérante.
5 minutes après une gorgée, le vin était oublié. Aucun caractère ! Aucune typicité.
En même temps, ce n'est pas un grand cru. D'où vient ce battage médiatique ? Serions-nous dans une nouvelle époque, post-Parker, qui justement devient extrême à sa manière, en sur-notant des vins au profil simplement nerveux ou moins boisés ?
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1/31/2023 - alexbhurst1678 wrote: 93 Points
Drank in nyc; smooth with nice floral and fruity tones; totally drinkable and breathes nicely with no acidity
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8/28/2022 - calypse Likes this wine: 97 Points
Korken war leicht undicht, deshalb testweise mit Corovin für ein Glas geöffnet. Der Wein präsentiert sich nach 3h Luft in fabelhafter (Früh-)form und fehlerfrei: griffig und mit Struktur, komplexe Frucht, gleichzeitig tolle Länge. Viel, viel Potenzial und macht jetzt schon Spaß!
edit: Ein halbes Jahr später ist der Wein nochmal deutlich weiter (sicher auch durch den nicht ganz dichten Korken). Viel Struktur, dicht verwobene Frucht, vor allem aber extrem elegant und minutenlanges Nachwirken. Großes Kino! Korrektur von 94 auf 97 Punkte.
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7/31/2022 - John McCabe wrote: 98 Points
I can see why this is rated so highly. Has a very unusual profile for a Bordeaux - almost feels more like a Cote Rotie in some respects. This does not feel so young at all and is drinking great as far as I can see. The tannins are relaxed and open-knit. This is so well balanced, there is a ease about it, medium-bodied, cashmere fruit, there is a real lightness, perhaps brought by the unusual whole bunch fermentation and I believe they use some clay instead of barrels in the ageing. Anyway the result is a beautiful, expressive wine that oozes class, with a bright extensive fruit profile. I got this upon release for a steal at about $79 after shipping, no tax. Glad I've one more.
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3/24/2022 - rossi.wine wrote: 96 Points
Tasted after the 2014. Cool, pure, peppery, spicy, floral, notes of tobacco. Very intense and bright on the palate, ripe tannins, very harmonious, just a little restrained. Very elegant, lots of depth, great length. Impressive. Keep. 95-96+
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3/24/2022 - wineforth Likes this wine: 95 Points
At the Wine Society Carmes Haut-Brion tutored tasting. To increase complexity and reduce the alcohol level (13.5%) there is some whole bunch fermentation and no second wine. The aim is to have balance, and complexity over weight. Cepage is more like a St. Emilion at 41% Cab Franc, 39% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauvignon.
I've had this wine three times before and it keeps getting better as it ages. Typical farmy cab. franc nose gives way to anise and complex fruits. Enchanting. Medium/ light weight and slightly thin finish yet more enjoyable than this suggests. Reminds me of Ausone before it fully modernised its style. Can be found at £140 a bottle and whilst not good value unless you love this style it is worth trying.
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3/24/2022 - Paul D wrote: 95 Points
TWS - Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion Tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): Lovely nose, ripe dark fruit, touch of mineral, meaty notes. Medium/full, quite rich, dark fruited, soft tannins, spice, lovely vibrant acids. Long. Really lovely, already starting to drink this should be great in a few more years.
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3/26/2021 - DrewWongo Likes this wine:
Coravin 3rd Pour - Wow! Very fruity nose mixed or sour and sweet fruits, sharpness to the bouquet, with slight floral notes in the background now. I can keep nosing this without taking a sip, as it's so refreshing. Still all primary notes. The palate is lovely, with mixed of sweet, sour and bitter fruits, but interwoven nicely. I love the lightness of the wine in my mouth. The finish is moderate, with good acidity which gives a good lift and freshness. It ends with a dry mouthfeel though, which makes you want to have a sip again.
Overall, a wine I will be willing to drink now, but I can really see this developing more beautifully in the next 10 years at least.
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3/2/2021 - Sean Tay wrote: 94 Points
Deep purple in colour. Pronounced nose intensity of green bell pepper, flora, violet, black fruits. High tannin and acidity, long finish and complex. Able to cellar.
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2/5/2021 - SARED Likes this wine: 94 Points
94+. Very primary (duh) and I am excited to see where this goes over the next 15 years. Echo 11/26 Cailles note of a unique flavor profile with pure creamy red raspberry, some savory complexity that is hard to pinpoint a single note on (tobacco? chocolate? herbs?) and precise acidity that brings some refinement.
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11/26/2020 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
First time trying this wine since the arrivage, when it was always one of my favorites. The highlights are the absolute aristocratic elegance, the subtlety, the precision and above all it‘s uniqueness in terms of flavor profile (coming for sure to a big part from the partial whole cluster fermentation). I‘m a big fan - this is a winery to follow.
TN: Absolute killer nose, dark and brooding at first, it opens up with fine, pure red berries, smoke, stems, minerality. On the palate with very pure and fresh raspberries, red currant, some blueberries, crushed slate, smoke, stems, some earthy notes. Aristocratic, fresh profile, very high precision, good intensity, good concentration, yet with a very fine texture with no excess weight and the right amount of creaminess. The tannin structure is robust but with very fine velvety tannins, the acidity is perfectly integrated and the finish is impressively long with dark fruits, smoke and minerality.
Decanting: PnP, good from the go.
Glass: Sensory vs Zalto Bdx vs Grassl 1855. Nose goes to the Sensory - no close race. By far the best precision and harmony, clearly the highest complexity. Zalto a tad behind and with a different, sweeter bouquet. Grassl in between in terms of style and least interesting. Palate: winner again clearly the Sensory (precision, elegance, complexity, harmony), followed by Zalto (sweeter but harmony/acid-integration are subpar) and far off the Grassl (hyper focus on minerality doesn‘t work at all with this subtle, not sweet or fruity wine).
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7/3/2020 - otto60 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I think that grassy Cabernet Franc nose needs to be understood and liked to be projected to the future as something outstanding.
Palate is more assuring for me, but mid weighted and two instead of multi dimensional.
It is a very well made wine for sure but I'm missing any kind of riddle or hidden qualities.
Glad to have 5 more but no need for me to stock up.
Nevertheless curious about the future development.
Pnp dark saturated colour.. good acid backbone fine tannins... hard to tell what's missing.
Day2: darberry nose with a whiff of menthol
more compact palate with slightly bitter fine tannins
soily, not unsimilar to La Mission which I gave the same points btw.
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7/1/2020 - ledocq Likes this wine:
Yes, it lives up to the hype. Right now, it's like seeing the trailer for the incredibly cool movie that will be out in 10 years - you get flashes of what it will be, but not the whole package. I've been a fan since the 2005 vintage, and agree that this is a step up in complexity and depth - there is so much going on here! My worry had been that with new consultants and whatnot, it was going to lose its, well, its weirdness. Shouldn't have worried. This is such a striking, complex, unique Bordeaux, and it's only gotten more interesting. Not that well integrated on night one but on night two, it was approachable. Next bottle in 2024. One of the better Bordeaux that I've had.
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6/18/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Another amazing wine of this stable. French wine critic Jean-Marc Quarin was again the first one to note that things are changing here with the new owner (Real estate developper Patrice Pichet) who launched a team with wine maker Guillaume Pouthier and consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt. Interesting to note, they use whole cluster and amphora in parts of their vinification, really experimenting and pushing. I already liked this wine back in 2005 when I noted it as a stand out during the EP week. This 2016 is a new benchmark. Fresh, elegant, precise mouthfeel and very aromatic. Not overpowering but with excellent Palate presence. This is exactly how good CabSav blends should be made.
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3/16/2020 - englishman's claret wrote:
The nose here is quite tight and brooding - it's difficult to get much off of it at this point. The palate is polished with great poise, full of black cherry, smoke, and mineral. I should imagine this will have a good future ahead.
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1/17/2020 - DrewWongo Likes this wine:
Coravin 2nd Pour - The nose is floral and fruity, but in a light weightless sense. It really pulls me in. The palate is surprisingly light bodied, maybe on the verge of medium bodied with bright red fruits and acidity cutting through. The finishis long and lingers in the back of my throat. It's so burgundian. Wow! A young wine with the finesse and balance to drink now although I believe cellaring it for a few years will make it even better. It'll be a tough time to stop myself from opening more bottles in the next few years.
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12/27/2019 - DrewWongo Likes this wine:
Coravin 1st Pour - No real notes as I forgot to take them. But it is a really good wine which can be drunk even now
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11/28/2019 - Andre Brattland wrote: 95 Points
41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% alcohol.
Intense and yet youthful energic aromas with red concentrated berries, darker peel, perfume, light flowers, exotic spices, sweeter espresso and graphite. Good full bodied wine with pronounced fresh mouthfeel. More delicate and leaner than expected. Precise juicy red berries, dust, sweet wood and deep salt minerality. Pure acidity and great tannin structure. Wonderful wine. Probably the best vintage of the property so far? 95 points.
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10/13/2019 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 90 Points
Very fine and silky in texture. It shows you how much things have changed that a wine built like this is getting blockbuster points from the point purveyors. The fruit is restrained too, and definitely not blockbustery, although it is clipped somewhat by some reediness and very raw-tasting wood. The press doesn't seem to agree on the new oak specs; Decanter reports 80%, TWA 65% - both numbers would seem to deliver enough new wood to defeat the purpose of the small portion aged in amphorae, but usually new oak in Bordeaux makes it toasty, cedary, smoky, sweet, or whatever, and here it just feels like straight wood. On the second day the fruit had sweetened up a little bit but the wood component didn't diminish. It wasn't so aggressive that I'd be worried about it taking over in the cellar, but it was annoying enough to make this less fun than it should have been to check in now, however impressive that texture was.
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9/22/2019 - Andre Brattland wrote: 95 Points
Intense, powerful yet youthful energy on the aromas with darker concentrated berries, exotic spices, sweeter espresso and clear grafite that impresses. Full bodied wine with pronounced fresh mouthfeel. Precise juicy red berries, sweet wood and deep salt minerality. More delicate and charming, even with tougher tannin structure. Wonderful wine. Probably the best vintage of the castle so far? 95 points.
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9/10/2019 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 96 Points
Lukket nese med litt parfyme. Rødbær, morell. Mere rustikk i munn med kirsebær, moreller, krydder. Fantastisk dybde med mange lag. Evigvarende ettersmak 95-96
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8/24/2019 - tak4 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decided to open a bottle for fun. Have an entire case and interested to track the evolution of this wine over the years. I probably won't open another until 2026 at the earliest.
Popped and decanted. Left for about 3 hours before tasting.
Wine is a deep cloudy crimson with a purplish rim.
On nose, really complex. Roses, blackberry, tea, blood orange, something hot-spicy like szechuan peppercorn, and a violet undertone.
On palate, wine is sound. High tannin at this stage (of course), medium acidity, medium-high alcohol, loooong finish. Tannins are firm but not astringent/grippy, which bodes well. Great balance - fruit is present on palate and acid is present but not dominant.
This is honestly better than many red wines I have had which were supposedly "ready to drink." I can imagine this wine aging beautifully as it loses some of those youthful tannins and becomes something truly special. But even today this is by FAR the best young cabernet-based wine I have had.
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7/13/2019 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 94 Points
Solid Pessac, but too young obviously...I was just curious to taste the potential of 2016 right from the start. Great polished tannic structure, very deep, all about primary and secondary aromas. Perfect acidity/balance and . Should be amazing in 10-12 years. 94+
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6/12/2019 - wineforth Likes this wine: 94 Points
The foil at the 2018 en primeur tasting at Lord's. I've tasted this wine twice before and only gave it 90 each time. This time it was nearly as good as the 2018 but with the benefit of age. Now expensive at £1460ib a case.
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5/23/2019 - Ramonee Confit wrote: 100 Points
Verticale hier soir entres amis
2016: 99-100
2017: 98,5-99,5 (échantillon)
2015: 94-95
2014: 95-96
2013: 91-92
2012: 93-94
Et le 2018 en primeur est égal voir meilleur que le 2016: 99-100
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3/14/2019 - watcheslover wrote: 99 Points
re-tasted today, same marvel, same note (see below)
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3/9/2019 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
Bordeaux 2016 II: A second look at the 2016 confirmed my inital assessment from a tasting back in November: a) they‘re very deep, b) with perfectly ripe, velvety tannins, c) a very good, well-integrated acidity and d) an incredible balance and elegance even at this young stage also thanks to a low(er) alcohol level (than in 2009 or 2015). They‘re outerwordly good and a lot of the wines tasted were quite accessible. In my opinion, they‘re clearly ahead of the 2015 vintage (better, i.e. lower ripeness level; lower alcohol; more elegance). Best wine today was the Leoville Las Cases (98+) on par with the Pichon Comtesse back in November. Honorable mentions for the Figeac (97+), Carmes Haut Brion (96+), the Pape Clement (best ever at 95+) and an again singular Yquem (97+).
Short TN: Even better than back in November, more opened and mellowed, high intensity and precision. Amazing nose. Herbal, smokey, mineral-driven, dark fruit. Well-structured with still noticeable but very fine tannins. Good freshness. Highly elegant, deep and long. This is just great with a very promising future. 96++.
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3/9/2019 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Arvi Bordeaux 2016 Arrivage (Park Hyatt, Zurich): Lots of herbs with bright red fruits underneath. Great tannic structure and powerful on the palate. Liking this even more already than a few months ago when I first tasted it when I already scored this one 97.
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3/9/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted @ bigger Bordeaux 2016 arrivage tasting.
One of the wines of the tasting for me... Super aromatic, perfumed and seductive... this is all class. Notes of new leather, pepper, sweet spices, dark berries, also some red berries, graphite, lead pencil, mint and crushed flowers. It's medium-full bodied, has medium-high tannin that is incredibly silky and pretty high acidity providing tension. Excellent finish with plenty of depth and freshness. An incredibly beautiful Carmes-Haut-Brion that is all class, silk and finesse. Too bad, it's so expensive now. (96+)
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2/25/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Amsterdam UGCB Tasting and Winemakers' Dinner (Beurs van Berlage / Café De Klepel): Classic Graves profile of freshness and bricky warmth, lovely flavours and length. Complex and perfectly stylish.
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2/25/2019 - FransS wrote: 97 Points
The 2016 vintage UGCB tasting in Amsterdam 2/25/2019; 2/25/2019-2/27/2019 (Amsterdam): Tasted twice; first time a bit shy, a bit stony, medium deep, but there is more behind. The second time the bouquet had far more volume, more power, concentration and depth. The wine just misses the superb elegance of the Haut-Bailly; simply because this wine is slightly rough (at the moment), but wow, if this wine explodes it will break the glass.
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2/19/2019 - sung251 Likes this wine:
Tasted during SPECS Bordeaux tasting in Houston, the wine was the most unexpected performer in the whole tasting line up that gave formidable competition to the classic heavy hitters. Tons of floral and mineral notes in conjunction with precise fruit profile, the high percentage of cab franc really stands out in an elegant and balanced sort of way. (My friend drinking with me told me it sort of reminds him of cheval blanc) Exceptional QPR for its original release price of ~$75 but not so sure about the price point now as the price has been climbing quickly. 93/94 points today with a possible upside of 3-5 points at its peak.
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2/13/2019 - watcheslover wrote: 99 Points
Nose of great depth, with hints of incense, clove, oriental spices. Large mouth of remarkable precision. The tannin, chiseled, serious, expresses a real notion of depth and extraordinary dynamism. Grand finale on noble bitter. Very Pessac, smoked and balsamic. It has the grace and it is undoubtedly one of the peaks of the vintage!
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2/10/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
The initial blast of crushed rock, salty tannins and pure, deep, red fruits is all it takes to get hooked here. The nose, with its smoky, cigar box, flowers, leafy herbs, wet earth and sweet cherry notes might have started the show, but it is the intensity and purity in the fruit on the palate, with the 50 second finish that makes it all work. This is a star in the making! I am pointing this out because even though this vintage seems to have doubled in price since we initially raved about it, for a wine of this quality, it is well worth the price.
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1/28/2019 - alanr wrote: 92 Points
UGC SF - medium dark, medium body, slightly lighter style, very nice dusty dark red fruit, has richness but maintains some elegance with good acidity, some fine rocky tannins, almost a volcanic note. Leaning more lush and modern but quite delicious.
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1/27/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 94 Points
94+. Very well done in 2016. Hold 2025 but can drink now with air.
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1/23/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
UGC Bordeaux (Drake Hotel - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. What an impressive wine. Rich black plum and cherry with excellent density, but everything in wonderful proportion. Elegant and already showing intriguing complexity on its very long finish. 93-94 point potential.
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1/21/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 94 Points
Zachys Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2016 (New York City, NY): I loved this wine. I love the story in speaking with the wine rep and I was most impressed with the viscous fruit driven and modern wine that this was.
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11/11/2018 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
Bordeaux 2016: A first glimpse of the 2016 vintage at a UCG/merchant tasting. The aromatic depth and the soft and accessible structure are amazing and clearly ahead of the 2015s which were more on the fruitier, riper side but often less deep and especially on the left bank more austere (despite the hot vintage). 2015 seems a right bank year, while 2016 might turn out to be THE left bank year. I’ve tasted some 15 wines only (not all reviewed) with the Pichon Comtesse (98, best young left bank I’ve had to date) clearly at the top, followed by the Figeac (97, so much depth) and Carmes Haut Brion (96, probably the number one underrated and upcoming winery in Bordeaux). Positive surprises were the Léoville Barton (96, pure precision and coolness) and the Pape Clement (so seductive) with great quality/price ratios. Even I’ve bought a ton of 2016s en Primeur I would buy more after this tasting if it wasn’t for 2018 lining up to be another exceptional vintage.
TN: The high proportion of Cabernet Franc (>40%) shows well with a deep herbal, cola, mint, cassis aroma profile embedded in a fine and elegant structural frame. Compared to the very strong Pichon Comtesse and Figeac it needed more time and swirling in the glass to reveal its complexity and sexiness. This Carmes is only slightly behind these two wines but a clearly one, two or more steps ahead of other wines in its price range like the Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fourtet or Haut Bailly. 96+.
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11/7/2018 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Arvi Standing Bordeaux 2016 Tasting (Dolder Grand, Zurich): Lots of herbal aromas. Dried black tea leaves but also sweet touches of vanilla and licorice. Dark, ripe cherry. Voluminous, full texture and a long finish. Still a decent bag of tannins in there, but rather velvety and well integrated. There is lots of personality as well as versatility. A character wine you‘ll either love or hate. I love it.
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11/3/2018 - wineforth Likes this wine: 90 Points
En primeur tasting of over 40 2016s last month. Great purity of fruit if a little light on the palate. Now £1450 a case I’m glad I got the 2012 some years ago for a fraction of this as it’s now out of my price range. New Philipe Stark winery has a lot to answer for!
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5/12/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
Long, fresh, graceful, elegant, pure and refined, the layers of silky, cashmere textured fruits just doesn't quit. The wine has a uniqueness of character you can feel, taste and smell. This is a stunner and it still sells for a song. If you are not hip to what is going on with Les Carmes Haut Haut Brion, you should be!
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7/5/2017 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Spicy nose, even some floral elements, red and dark fruit, tobacco, herbs. Wonderfully expressive with lots of depth. On the palate again quite spicy, lots of finesse, generous fruit, minerality, ripe tannins. Very long. Lots of promise and potential. Can't wait to see how this will evolve. 94-95+
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6/22/2017 - PSPatrick wrote: 91 Points
Barrel sample. The wine was dark purple in colour and offered red and dark fruit, oak, vanilla and tea on the nose. On the palate, the wine showed red and dark fruit, oak, spices, vanilla and a hint of tea as well as a very mild vegetal component that added complexity, with medium-level acidity, medium-plus tannin (medium-fine) and very good length. The medium-bodied wine had good concentration and complexity. A good Bordeaux.
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5/21/2017 - wineforth Likes this wine: 90 Points
Barrel sample tasted en primeur. Good colour and slightly lean on the palate from the 40% Cab franc. Didn't grab me in the way the 2012 did.
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4/29/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
With a real intensity of raw material here, the nose pops with smoke, tobacco, flowers, earth, boysenberry and cassis. As time goes on, you find dark chocolate covered plums too. The texture is surreal. Pure silk and velvet fill your mouth and coat your palate. Concentrated and deep, this has a freshness, vibrancy and purity of fruit that really leaves you breathless. To understand the finish, picture eating ripe and almost over berries right off the vine, while smoking an aged Cuban cigar and you are almost there, if you just add the silky, velvet textures, rocks and stones. The finish sticks with you for over 60 seconds! The wine was made from blending 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that included 50% of the grapes being whole, bunch fermented, the wine reached 13.8% alcohol, with a pH of 3.55. The harvest took place September 21 to October 8. The wine is aging in 100% new, French oak barrels, with 5% of the production aging in clay amphora.
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