Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 2022 is a remarkable Bordeaux masterpiece, achieving a rare 100-point score from both The Wine Advocate and Decanter. This exceptional vintage showcases the estate’s modern, distinctive style with captivating aromas of violet, iris, peony, dark berries, black cherry, liquorice, and mineral notes. The palate is concentrated yet elegant, with silky precise tannins, vibrant freshness, and a long saline finish. A truly collectible Pessac-Léognan with outstanding ageing potential through 2062.

The Wine Advocate | RP 100
Published: Mar 7, 2025
Drink: 2032-2062

The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the finest wine bottled to date at this estate under Patrice Pichet's ownership and Guillaume Pouthier's direction. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of violet, iris, dark wild berries, pencil lead and mulberries, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated with a deep core of fruit beautifully framed by velvety, precise tannins, segueing into a long, saline and perfumed finish. Suave and harmonious, it was crafted with 70% whole bunches and matured in 70% new oak. This unconventional blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot represents a turning point for the estate, cementing its rapid ascendancy in the Bordeaux firmament.

Decanter | D 100
Published: Dec 15, 2024
Drink: 2029-2050

Deep and brooding, this wine is beautifully floral with violets, irises, and peonies alongside ripe black cherries, liquorice, and dark chocolate. Concentrated yet bursting with energy, it flows effortlessly across the palate. Vibrant red fruits - strawberry, cherry, raspberry - sit atop a mineral backbone of salty, wet stones. Crisp yet powdery tannins and bright acidity give incredible tension. Despite its depth, it feels almost weightless, so drinkable yet built to age. Pure, pristine, and vibrant, with no trace of heat - just balance and finesse. Juicy, lively, and utterly compelling. A true expression of place and a sure-fire hit. 

James Suckling | JS 99
Published: Feb 1, 2025

The purity and focus here is impressive with blackcurrants, crushed stones and floral undertones. The whole-bunch character comes through clearly with rose-stem and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, this is always so delicious but has lots of integrated, open-grained tannins. 70% whole-cluster fermentation. 40% cabernet franc, 34% cabernet sauvignon and 26% merlot. Idiosyncratic. So attractive now but will age beautifully.

Jancis Robinson | JR 17
Published: Jan 27, 2026
Drink: 2032-2050

Tasted blind. Sweet and round on the nose. Then – hallelujah! – gentle on the palate. Really well-managed extraction. Quite distinctive. Easy to like, and to drink relatively early. Lots going on here. Jancis Robinson

Technical Specs

Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Natural Cork
Harvest: 2022
Oak: 24 months; 75% new French oak, 15% 18hL foudres, 10% stoneware terracotta jars
Varietals: Cabernet Franc 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 34%, Merlot 26%
Soil: Mindel gravel over clay-limestone bedrock
Vineyard Area: Approx. 10 hectares
Exposure: South-facing slopes
Vine Age: Average 44 years
Harvest: 100% hand-harvested, 5 September–5 October 2022
Vinification: No crushing; 70% whole bunches. Fermentation in temperature-controlled 60hL stainless steel, 50hL concrete and 76hL wooden vats; approximately 35 days of cuvaison
Winemaker: Guillaume Pouthier
Region: Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
Decanting: 2–3 hours
Food Pairing: Roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck, venison, grilled steak, mushroom dishes and mature cheeses