December 9, 2023 - Très bonne surprise. Sérieux, fin, cuir, finale moyennement longue
June 11, 2023 - 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)
February 20, 2023 - Had it in Grindelwald out of a Magnum
Not only size matters - vintage even more !
Terrible Wine - hands off. Drink a cheap Swiss Pinot Noir and you are much better of
March 24, 2022 - Tasted after the 2006. Very herbal and green and almost a little stemmy on the nose and palate. Thin, acidity sticking out. Drink up. 87-89
March 24, 2022 - 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 and points chasing. Cepage is more like a St. Emilion at 59% Cab Franc, 22% Merlot, 19% Cab Sauvignon. Needs 20 minutes in a decanter. VG nose, farmy at first but this soon disappears. Good balance and OK length. Light fruit makes this an excellent lunch wine. A good wine in the context of a poor vintage and sadly overpriced at £75 in bond.
March 24, 2022 - TWS - Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion Tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): Spicy, smoky, touch of leafiness. Medium bodied, spicy, fresh - red fruit, vibrant, touch firm on finish.
March 5, 2021 - This bottle shows why vintage is important still,
good fresh black currant nose,
the palate is lean and green despite the indicated 13,5% ABV on the label, good black fruit here, very fresh, would call this biting acidic , lacking deepness or attractive fruit core, ending a little simple and quiet short,
and if you look at the price tag, this is over all horrifying,
had this one single bottle only, but would not buy any of these voluntarily again, for me a clear disappointment of this great Bordeaux name, around 86-88
March 18, 2018 - Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion vertical - Dinner with director Guillaume Pouthier (Zurich): I was not expecting much given how bad the 2013 vintage is. The wine was a bit better than I expected. Lovely nose with dark fruit, peppermint. Relatively simple but decent palate. Decent but as I said many times, avoid 2013 Bordeaux altogether. If you look for a bargain, go for the great 2012/14 of this producer.
August 24, 2017 - I didn't expect much from this vintage. And so it was. Already drinkable. Quite thin. Will this gain with some more cellaring? I'm not sure. This wine was rated as one of the best of the vintage by some critics. At the moment it doesn't convince me.
April 15, 2017 - Q2 2017 Tasting - The Anti-Sideways (aka Merlot) (The Apt): The last of the bonus bottles on a bit Merlot drinking day, but this was fun. Much more approachable than your average young Bordeaux. I enjoyed it.