2014 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
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2014
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion (Pessac-Léognan)
Much better from bottle than barrel, this continues developing nicely. Perfumed, silky, elegant and refined, the smoky, dark, ripe, sweet, fresh, red fruits, spice, earth and tobacco linger and build. 4,999 Views Tasted Feb 6, 2017The wine has put on more weight, gained in softness and complexity than when last tasted during the En Primeur tastings. It’s well worth keeping an eye on. 92-94 Pts 4,894 Views Tasted Jul 23, 2015Smoke, 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% ABV with a pH of 3.6 and will be aged in 80% new, French oak barrels. 92-94 Pts 4,041 Views Tasted Apr 24, 2015 |
When to Drink Chateau, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 2-3 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion is usually better with at least 8-10 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 10-35 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Les Carmes Haut Brion, with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. Chateau Les Carmes is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta as well as cheese.
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion Character and Style
The style of wine from Les Carmes Haut Brion until recently has been on the light side for the Pessac Leognan region, due to the high percentage of Cabernet Franc planted in the vineyard. With the new owners, the style has changed a bit. Today, the wine is showing more depth and concentration, while retaining its elegance and freshness.
Depending on the vintage, the wine can offer more complexity in the nose, than in the mouth. The 2014 Les Carmes Haut Brion displayed more depth and complexity than many previous vintages making it a contender for the best wine produced in the history of the chateau.
Les Carmes Haut Brion has the ability to age and evolve. The best example of this was discovered this year when tasting a magnum of the 1915 Les Carmes Haut Brion at the chateau!
On average, close to 4,000 cases of wine are produced in an average year. The estate makes a second wine, Le Clos de Carmes Haut Brion. However, this wine is actually its own unique brand as it's produced from grapes planted in Martillac that were originally part of the Le Thil vineyard.