Carmes Haut Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2014

Vinous

91

par Neal Martin le 30/04/2022

The 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion includes 45% whole bunches with around half the crop vinified via infusion. Expressive on the nose, it offers red fruit, rose petals, cola and hints of black truffle, a little more mineralité than previous vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine depth, crisp and taut with grip and muscle on the finish. Yet it is streamlined and focused with ample sapidity, quite elegant after a few minutes in the glass. This is a satisfying wine for the vintage rather than an exceptional one. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

par Jane Anson le 07/02/2022

This is the first vintage where you see true clarity and precision in the fruit expression, and you start to feel the hum of minerality and confidence that Carmes has built up so successfully over the past decade. Drawn out raspberry and blackberry fruit on the finish, with grip and waves of violet and peony aromatics, moving on from the rose stems of the earlier vintages. A lovely wine, ready to drink but will age, and the slate scrape texture and white pepper spice gives an extra kick of interest. This was the point at which I began to fall in love with Carmes. 40% stems. 3.6ph.

Vinous

91

par Neal Martin le 28/03/2018

The 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion has a concentrated bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and light brine-like aromas. There is just a touch of warmth from the alcohol that detracts from the delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, rounded and supple in the mouth with a touch of white pepper and clove towards the comparatively conservative finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

par Jeb Dunnuck le 30/11/2017

I tasted the 2014 Château les Carmes Haut Brion (54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon) last year at the estate, yet it showed even better this year and has gained both depth and richness. Possessing an inky purple color and beautiful notes of blueberries, currants, exotic flowers, bay leaf and a hint of graphite, this medium to full-bodied 2014 has polished tannin, impressive mid-palate depth, and a layered, elegant texture that’s already hard to resist. Like most 2014s it shines for its elegance and purity more so than power and richness. Enjoy bottles anytime over the coming two to three decades.

Decanter.com

95

par Stephen Brook le 03/11/2017

Opulent blackcurrant and black cherry nose, with admirable elegance. Lavish and concentrated, an imposing wine, with a long, spicy, intense finish refreshed by a touch of mint. It may be an atypical Graves but it has terrific length and a polish that the previous owners never quite achieved.

Jamessuckling.com

93

par James Suckling le 16/02/2017

Extremely perfumed with violets, lavender and hot stones as well as fruit and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-bodied, firm and silky and fresh. A lovely and bright wine now. Better in 2020.

Vinous

95

par Antonio Galloni le 06/02/2017

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is total knock-out. Graphite, smoke, red cherry jam, spice, cured meat, pomegranate and tobacco are just some of the myriad sensations that race out of the glass. Today, the 2014 is gloriously ample on the palate, with remarkable nuance for a wine of its size. The Carmes Haut-Brion has been terrific in two recent tastings. The blend is 54 % Cabernet Franc, 32 % Merlot and 14 % Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in oak, but with some influence of 500-liter tonneaux and 12-hectoliter casks. Simon Blanchard is the consulting oenologist. Tasted two times. 95+

Le Point

14,5

par Jacques Dupont le 21/05/2015

Fruits noirs, matière dense, moelleux, doux en milieu de bouche, un peu séché en finale par le bois à ce stade. 

Vinous

92-95

par Antonio Galloni le 11/05/2015

The 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is once again a real showstopper. One of the most unique wines in Pessac because of its high amount of Cabernet Franc, the Carmes Haut-Brion offers up a compelling mélange of dark red stone fruits, pomegranate, smoke, tobacco and licorice. The late harvest has resulted in a deep, ripe, super-concentrated wine endowed with tremendous depth. There may be a little freshness missing, but that is a small critique for a wine that delivers so much pleasure. The blend is 54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in oak, but with some influence of 500L tonneaux and 12HL casks. Simon Blanchard is the Consulting Oenologist. Tasted two times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

par Jeff Leve le 05/05/2015

Smoke, black cherry, thyme and the scent of rich soil create a complex perfume. A softly structured, dark red and blackberry-filled wine with the kind of concentration and depth of flavor that yields a delectable, silken black plum and cherry end note. It feels as good as it tastes. Made from blending 54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14.22% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and will be aged in 80% new, French oak barrels. 92-94 Pts

Wine Advocate

90-92

par Neal Martin le 30/04/2015

The Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2014 is a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are being converted to organic, undergoing a 30-day cuvaison with 15% to 40% whole clusters. Around 74% of the crop is matured in 80% new oak, 16% in 1,200-liter oak foudres and the remainder in 1-year old oak. Winemaker Guillaume Pouthier (ex-Chapoutier) has fashioned a bold and opulent bouquet with macerated black cherries and boysenberry jam. But it does not really 'sing' of "Pessac-Léognan", not at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannin on the entry, but then there is a wave of ripe, black, grainy fruit infused with graphite and cedar and it finishes in a bravura fashion with a seam of coconut originating from the oak. I would want to just check how the oak integrates with time by bottling and it may merit a higher score then. It's gonna need a top wine to match the architectural ambitions of its Philippe Starck-designed winery - this is certainly going in the right direction.

Jancis Robinson

17

par Jancis Robinson le 22/04/2015

Deep purple. Interesting meaty nose. Sweet and more weight of fruit than most. Very suave and polished. Excellent persistence. Though there is no getting away from the acid and tannin!   Drink 2022-2038 (17-)

Asian Palate

87

par Jeannie Cho Lee MW le 20/04/2015

Much better made this year than over the past several years with a supple, velvety mid-palate. Flavors are ripe with plum, red fruit and cedar on the palate - easy to drink and enjoy young.

Decanter.com

17,25

par Jane Anson le 17/04/2015

Good lift, like the structure of this wine, the tannins are supple but firm, this is a medium drinker but with ambition, can feel the well fleshed out dark fruits, a real spiciness here, bitter chocolate, high acidity, a touch austere again, lean but with impact. Important investment going on at this estate currently, one to watch. Drink: 2018-2030 (90+)

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

par James Suckling le 10/04/2015

Beautiful density of fruit with blackberry, dark chocolate and blueberry character. Full-bodied, very fine and silky. Classy for the vintage.

timatkin.com

95

par Tim Atkin MW le 07/04/2015

René Gabriel

18

par René Gabriel le 01/04/2015

54 % Cabernet Franc,44 % Merlot, 12 % Cabernet Sauvignon. 30'000 Flaschen. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violettenReflexen. Geniales Bouquet, schwarze Beeren, Holunder, Cassis, Mokkatouch, Veilchennoten, also tiefgründig und verspielt zugleich. Im Gaumen extrem elegant, hoch feine, reife Tannine, superbe Balance. Kein Bulldozer, sondern ein sehr femininer Pessac. Ein Carmes mit Charme! 18/20 2022 – 2044

Wine Enthusiast

93

par Roger Voss le 01/04/2015

92–94. Barrel Sample. Dusty tannins float in this impressive wine. It has dark layers of black fruits and acidity that cushion the dry, tannic character, with great freshness at the end.   — R.V.  (3/30/2015)

Wine Spectator

89-92

par James Molesworth le 31/03/2015

Fleshy and open in feel already, with dark plum and blueberry notes, layered with light cocoa and fruitcake hints. Has a touch of loamy grip at the very end.