Good colour, medium weight, good fruit, with a quite long finish. Quite fresh, there's some acidity there. Not exceptional, but very decent. No hurry to drink up.
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Some evolution in terms of colour and on the nose. Floral notes, tobacco, spices, pencil shavings, crushed stones. Very expressive and attractive. On the palate soft red fruit, unobtrusive tannins. Good acidity and balance, decent length. Not overly complex but in a really good spot right now. Drink (or keep). 91-93
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At the Wine Society Carmes Haut-Brion tutored tasting. This wine dates from before the current ownership, change in cepage and dramatic increase in quality, yet the price seems to reflect the more recent wines! 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alc. 13.5%. Farmyard nose; merlot softness on the palate yet too tannic for the fruit. Short finish. Deteriorated in the glass quite quickly. Drink up (or sell!) if you have some.
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TWS - Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion Tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): Deep garnet, classic Graves nose, smoke, dark fruit, spice, mineral. Medium bodied, dark fruited, leather notes, smoke, attractive freshness, some unresolved tannin on end, soil notes. Excellent even if a touch rustic in comparison to more recent vintages
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We have tried 2 bottles at X-Mas Eve and both were clearly too aged. So don't be disappointed if this is the case. We should have drank them some years ago...
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Medium purple- ruby, big time bic pen, ink, leather, animal, clove, fennel, on the palate a bit restrained and metallic first opens up beautifully in 1h with pronounced flavors of plums, spices, great balance of acidity and tannins. Drinking amazing now
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Full of life and vigor, this wine is unique in that the cabernet franc is detectable and seems to be in charge of the cuve. That might explain the slow aging, but this is hitting its stride now, with fruit, some secondary notes up front, and beaming with freshness and power. A very dry, powerful wine that is ready to drink with good QPR. Drink or Hold
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An easy afternoon with close friends (@ BV): It has been some time since I tasted this vintage of this wine and – sad to say – again not a very convincing bottle (from a completely different source than previous wines). In the bouquet celery, soy, soup, coffee and tea. On the palate still very drinkable if you like the tertiary impressions. A lot of chocolate, mocha and somewhat drying tannin. I begin to wonder if this is an off vintage for this domain… No score from me for today’s bottle.
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Oh what a difference 3 years makes...This is hitting home right now.Spot on, with Bordeaux demeanor....Finally, this baby has come home. Its was worth the wait. Drink
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Drinking beautifully after open for one day. The 2010 vintage of this wine has more power and intensity to the fruit. But the 2006 is no slouch - great balance, lovely texture, and a nice line of acidity on the lingering finish. A winner!
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Its showing its age but in a good way - right in prime form. Higher proportion of Merlot. A minty and smoked bacon aroma. A very good vintage to drink now I am being told and that is true. 55% Merlot, 30% Franc, and 15 Cabernet. Powerful, yet elegant, the fruit isn't quite standing up to the tannins but its still there and before the ownership change.
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Secondary taking over, mushroom stock, herbs, ready to drink now, considered a restaurant vintage. Black fruit, showing real nice balance across palate, fine, soft tannins, alcohol is modest, wine liners.
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Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion vertical - Dinner with director Guillaume Pouthier (Zurich): Distrinctively earthy, rustic nose, a touch of farmyard, underbush. The palate is also a bit St.Estephe style. Could have benefitted from stricter selection. I wold avoid this and stick to the sublime 2005/10 and wines after 2012 made by the new team in the new cellar.
Medium bodied, lighter, red berry dominated wine with soft, silky textures, an olive tapenade, smoke, cherry and earthy personality that is ready for drinking today.
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Jammy black cherries and oak in the nose, with a medium bodied, sweet and tart, spicy, cherry and cranberry note in the finish. You can drink this now, or age it for a few more years.
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Ripe dark fruit and cherry nose, and some smoke. Very fruity in the mouth but tannins are firm, balanced with good acidity. Short finish though. A very drinkable wine.
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Just a few short notes; beautiful classical bouquet with black as well as red fruits and some smoke. The tannin are round and still with a firm bite. Elegant fresh acidity. A confirmation of last years note.
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Ruby colored with scents of red berries, stone, smoke and cigar ash, this medium bodied wine is about finesse. Elegant and soft in texture, the wine ends with a light, red, fruit filled finish. This is a nice, lighter style of Bordeaux wine, but it needs a little more concentration and depth.
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See last year's note. The wine has become a little more round and supple already. For the rest still a good structure and elegant. Really pleasant and excellent but not outstanding. Give it another 3 - 4 years of cellaring.
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An eventful day; 10/9/2009-10/11/2009 (Lighthouse and Prime Society): Retasted after one day . Wow! Nose is totally evolved with very mystical middle eastern exotic incense with exotic floral scents , very focused and hypnotic aroma. Dark bitter chocolate covered black cherries with weighty and teeth coating tannins. This is just showing its best and shows a lot of ageing potential though not going to be a great wine, this will be a good one. Towards the end, i got very nice top grade kenyan grade A coffee beans. I love the nose.
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An eventful day; 10/9/2009-10/11/2009 (Lighthouse and Prime Society): Unexpectedly tight and closed up even after decanting for an hour. Faint whiffs of stony minerality and understated berry fruits. Hard tannins. Sillky texture. Feels that it has something to show but still yet to be ready. Probably will retaste next time before judging.
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2/2/2024 - GooseGoose wrote: 88 Points
A bit past its prime. I would drink now and decant for 3 plus hours.
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12/9/2023 - ggroebli wrote: 91 Points
Nez classique, flatteur, un peu court, structure légère. Drink up.
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5/18/2022 - Richard Nabavi Likes this wine: 91 Points
At Otto's Restaurant Mature Bordeaux dinner
Good colour, medium weight, good fruit, with a quite long finish. Quite fresh, there's some acidity there. Not exceptional, but very decent. No hurry to drink up.
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3/24/2022 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Some evolution in terms of colour and on the nose. Floral notes, tobacco, spices, pencil shavings, crushed stones. Very expressive and attractive. On the palate soft red fruit, unobtrusive tannins. Good acidity and balance, decent length. Not overly complex but in a really good spot right now. Drink (or keep). 91-93
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3/24/2022 - wineforth wrote: 89 Points
At the Wine Society Carmes Haut-Brion tutored tasting. This wine dates from before the current ownership, change in cepage and dramatic increase in quality, yet the price seems to reflect the more recent wines! 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alc. 13.5%. Farmyard nose; merlot softness on the palate yet too tannic for the fruit. Short finish. Deteriorated in the glass quite quickly. Drink up (or sell!) if you have some.
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3/24/2022 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
TWS - Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion Tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): Deep garnet, classic Graves nose, smoke, dark fruit, spice, mineral. Medium bodied, dark fruited, leather notes, smoke, attractive freshness, some unresolved tannin on end, soil notes. Excellent even if a touch rustic in comparison to more recent vintages
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1/26/2021 - elevation02 wrote: 93 Points
Just amazing and still drinking well! Pop the cork and get after it...time is running out.
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12/24/2020 - ecbatane Does not like this wine: 70 Points
We have tried 2 bottles at X-Mas Eve and both were clearly too aged.
So don't be disappointed if this is the case. We should have drank them some years ago...
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11/16/2019 - neomarcel wrote: 88 Points
sharp tanins
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9/29/2018 - Cipivts Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium purple- ruby, big time bic pen, ink, leather, animal, clove, fennel, on the palate a bit restrained and metallic first opens up beautifully in 1h with pronounced flavors of plums, spices, great balance of acidity and tannins. Drinking amazing now
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9/19/2018 - Purple Tooth wrote: 91 Points
Full of life and vigor, this wine is unique in that the cabernet franc is detectable and seems to be in charge of the cuve. That might explain the slow aging, but this is hitting its stride now, with fruit, some secondary notes up front, and beaming with freshness and power. A very dry, powerful wine that is ready to drink with good QPR. Drink or Hold
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8/14/2018 - Zweder wrote:
An easy afternoon with close friends (@ BV): It has been some time since I tasted this vintage of this wine and – sad to say – again not a very convincing bottle (from a completely different source than previous wines). In the bouquet celery, soy, soup, coffee and tea. On the palate still very drinkable if you like the tertiary impressions. A lot of chocolate, mocha and somewhat drying tannin. I begin to wonder if this is an off vintage for this domain… No score from me for today’s bottle.
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8/2/2018 - Purple Tooth wrote: 92 Points
Oh what a difference 3 years makes...This is hitting home right now.Spot on, with Bordeaux demeanor....Finally, this baby has come home. Its was worth the wait. Drink
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7/20/2018 - signotim Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully after open for one day. The 2010 vintage of this wine has more power and intensity to the fruit. But the 2006 is no slouch - great balance, lovely texture, and a nice line of acidity on the lingering finish. A winner!
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7/17/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Its showing its age but in a good way - right in prime form. Higher proportion of Merlot. A minty and smoked bacon aroma. A very good vintage to drink now I am being told and that is true. 55% Merlot, 30% Franc, and 15 Cabernet. Powerful, yet elegant, the fruit isn't quite standing up to the tannins but its still there and before the ownership change.
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7/17/2018 - Joe Kane wrote:
Secondary taking over, mushroom stock, herbs, ready to drink now, considered a restaurant vintage. Black fruit, showing real nice balance across palate, fine, soft tannins, alcohol is modest, wine liners.
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3/18/2018 - Collector1855 wrote: 89 Points
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion vertical - Dinner with director Guillaume Pouthier (Zurich): Distrinctively earthy, rustic nose, a touch of farmyard, underbush. The palate is also a bit St.Estephe style. Could have benefitted from stricter selection. I wold avoid this and stick to the sublime 2005/10 and wines after 2012 made by the new team in the new cellar.
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5/25/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied, lighter, red berry dominated wine with soft, silky textures, an olive tapenade, smoke, cherry and earthy personality that is ready for drinking today.
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7/23/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Jammy black cherries and oak in the nose, with a medium bodied, sweet and tart, spicy, cherry and cranberry note in the finish. You can drink this now, or age it for a few more years.
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6/3/2014 - j30 wrote: 88 Points
Ripe dark fruit and cherry nose, and some smoke. Very fruity in the mouth but tannins are firm, balanced with good acidity. Short finish though. A very drinkable wine.
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11/25/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 87 Points
Annual Grand Cru Tasting (Wijnhandel De Gouden Leeuw, Voorschoten, NL): Cherries, hint of cherry stone, serviceable but not terribly interesting.
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2/24/2012 - Zweder wrote: 88 Points
Just a few short notes; beautiful classical bouquet with black as well as red fruits and some smoke. The tannin are round and still with a firm bite. Elegant fresh acidity. A confirmation of last years note.
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10/29/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Ruby colored with scents of red berries, stone, smoke and cigar ash, this medium bodied wine is about finesse. Elegant and soft in texture, the wine ends with a light, red, fruit filled finish. This is a nice, lighter style of Bordeaux wine, but it needs a little more concentration and depth.
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5/4/2011 - Zweder wrote: 88 Points
See last year's note. The wine has become a little more round and supple already. For the rest still a good structure and elegant. Really pleasant and excellent but not outstanding. Give it another 3 - 4 years of cellaring.
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7/6/2010 - Khamen wrote: 84 Points
BR 2009 Bordeaux En Primeur Tasting (London): Soft oaky nose with traces of graphite. Boisterous tannins dominate. Not sure fruit will go the ditance vs those tannins. 84
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1/3/2010 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
Classical and certainly a good wine, but what I miss is the roundness of Pessac. Firm tannin and a good structure. Cassis. Drink from 2013 onwards.
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10/11/2009 - Alex H wrote: 86 Points
An eventful day; 10/9/2009-10/11/2009 (Lighthouse and Prime Society): Retasted after one day . Wow! Nose is totally evolved with very mystical middle eastern exotic incense with exotic floral scents , very focused and hypnotic aroma. Dark bitter chocolate covered black cherries with weighty and teeth coating tannins. This is just showing its best and shows a lot of ageing potential though not going to be a great wine, this will be a good one. Towards the end, i got very nice top grade kenyan grade A coffee beans. I love the nose.
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10/9/2009 - Alex H wrote:
An eventful day; 10/9/2009-10/11/2009 (Lighthouse and Prime Society): Unexpectedly tight and closed up even after decanting for an hour. Faint whiffs of stony minerality and understated berry fruits. Hard tannins. Sillky texture. Feels that it has something to show but still yet to be ready. Probably will retaste next time before judging.
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1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:
Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Licorice, eucalyptus. Chalky, good fruit. Good.
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1/26/2009 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Grand Crus de Bordeaux Tasting: 2005 & 2006 wines (NYC, The Lighthouse, Pier 60, Chelsea Piers): Very similar to the 2005.
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