C des Carmes Haut Brion 2018

Pessac-Leognan, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

This show so much effusive ripe fruit with cherries and strawberries. Lightly jammy. Full-bodied and slightly chewy, yet with so much fruit and brightness. Delicious now, but give it two or three years to open. Second wine of Carmes. Try after 2023.

Score: 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2023+ 05 October 2021

The 2018 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion is blended of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It includes 25% whole cluster, has 13.6% alcohol and is anticipated to age 18-24 months in barriques, 30% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little reduced to begin, opening out to pretty notions of roses, cinnamon stick and black pepper over a core of Black Forest cake, licorice, tar, warm cassis and chargrill. Medium-bodied, the palate is tightly wound with firm, ripe, chunky tannins and lovely freshness with saline and mineral sparks coming through on the long, vibrant finish.

Score: 93

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 23 April 2019

This is an excellent wine, in keeping with the growing confidence of the grand vin but from vines that are located in a separate part of the appellation. It has extremely rich flavours of sage, cassis and blackberry, combined with excellent freshness and a lot of intensity, They have used 25% stalks in the second wine this year, which is more than usual, perhaps responsible for the salinity on the finish. The 25hl/ha yield was the result of hail at the end of May rather than mildew. Ageing is in 30% new oak, with the balance - entirely from the Léognan plots - in larger oak casks. Usually released three years after the vintage. 3.55pH.

Score: 91

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2022-2032 30 March 2019