The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Apr 6, 2023
Drink: 2025-2045

Bottled after 24 months' élevage, much of which took place in large foudres, the 2020 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion offers up aromas of dark berries, plums and spices complemented by hints of rose petal and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, supple and pillowy, with an ample core of fruit framed by melting tannins, it's a suave and charming blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.

James Suckling | JS 94
Published: Mar 29, 2023

A fruity and bright red with cherries, redcurrants and sea salt. Medium to full body. Lovely tannins that are melted in the wine. Juicy and dynamic. 100% whole cluster fermentation. From vineyards in Pessac Leognan. This is really fantastic and so energetic. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Drink or hold.

Decanter | D 93
Published: Apr 11, 2024
Drink: 2027-2040

Crunchy and bright on the nose, some herbal and crisp fresh fruits, cranberry, red cherry and strawberry. Herbal Cabernet elements too. Super bright and fresh, clean, so crystalline and pure. Nice drinkability on offer, really lovely styling, has salinity and lots of minerality with a direct frame. Not as plush or weighty as some, but there are gorgeous aromatics, juiciness and a clean definition to the tannins. Very finessed and balanced. A stunning second wine. 3.60pH. 25% whole bunch fermentation. Harvest September 20 to October 5. Ageing 20% new oak, 70% vats of 30hl and 10% amphoras.

Les-carmes-haut-brion.com

Ripened in the soils of Martillac, C des Carmes Haut-Brion is a beautiful prelude to pleasure.

Using a more traditional blend, C des Carmes Haut-Brion focuses on Merlot subtly complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is in the spotlight here, offering an elegant range of aromas. Drunk young, the wine develops a crisp intensity which will gain the patina of beautiful complexity as the years pass.

- 2020 -

Colour: Red
Appellation: Pessac-Léognan
Owner: Pichet Family
Estate Manager: Guillaume Pouthier
Consultants: Derenoncourt Consultants

VINEYARDS
Plantation density: 6 700 - 12 000 plants/ ha.
Average age of the vines in 2017: 15 years
Soil types: Graves from the Günz epoch, sand from the Pliocène epoch, clay from the Oligocène epoch
Harvesting: 100% hand-picked
Harvest dates: From September 21st to October 5th 2020