Les Carmes Haut Brion (750ML)
From Pessac-Leognan
| Vintage: | 2018 |
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| Description: | 100 Jd / 98 Ja / 98 Wci / 98 Fs / 97 Vm / 97 JS / 96+ Wa / 96 De / 95-98 Ws / 17.5 Jr. #14 Jeb Dunnuck Top 100 2021. #30 Decanter Wines of the Year 2022. 13.5% alcohol. The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty!-Jeb Dunnuck. An estate I have championed for many years now, and watched as its reputation has grown. It deserves all the plaudits, both for making great wines and also having the courage to stand out for its own distinct personality and winemaking choices. The highest levels of Cabernet Franc on the Left bank, made in this vintage with a full 53% whole bunch fermentation, giving lower alcohols in a hot year, floral edges to the aromatics and a lean, muscular feel to the tannins. Winemaker Guillaume Pouthier ensures this doesn't compromise the intensity and clarity of the fruit flavours, and you'll find tons of blueberry and bilberry fruits that showcase the Cabernet fruits, along with saffon and turmeric spices, liqourice and pencil lead. Give it another few years, but this should be ready to go a little earlier than some in the vintage. Harvest September 13 to 28. 3.58ph, 75% new oak barrels 16% large oak casks, 9% amphoras for ageing. -Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Aromatically, this beauty kicks off with an array of just-picked flowers, smoky, dark red and black fruits, licorice, herbs, wet earth, cigar box, forest leaf, and salty, crushed rocks. Deeply colored, concentrated, full-bodied, elegant, soft, refined and pure on the palate, the seamless finish keeps on going with layers of fresh, ripe, sweet, sensuously textured fruits. The wine is a blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot, 13.75% Abv. This has the potential to age and evolve for 2-3 decades with ease.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider |
| Price: | $ 189.99 |
| Price in original currency: | None |
Available from Grand Vin Wine Merchants
| Address: |
1003 4th Avenue East Olympia, WA 98506 United States |
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| Telephone (regular): | 360-350-4896 |
First added to 1000 Corks on May 12, 2019.
