{"product_id":"chateau-les-carmes-haut-brion-pessac-leognan-bordeaux-france-2016","title":"Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2016","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ePatrice Pichet acquired the Carmes estate in late 2010. This investment had a hint of challenge about it, of course, but it was also driven by a genuine passion for wine harbouring the highest ambitions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section templates\/block\/image-left-text-right.twig\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"image-and-text-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"container image-and-text\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"block-content right\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"record-content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore taking over the estate, Patrice Pichet was an admiring neighbour. For many years, he enjoyed regular walks on the adjacent land before meeting the Chantecaille family in the early 2000s. That is when he discovered Carmes and fell instantly under its spell. The idea of purchasing a vineyard was not a new one, but this time it seemed an obvious choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpert craftsmen Stéphane Derenoncourt and Guillaume Pouthier form a complementary duo on the estate, working together with the same passion devoted to enhancing the vineyard and giving Carmes its unique signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new winery, designed by Philippe Starck and Luc Arsène-Henry, which opened in 2016, marked the start of a new era for the chateau. Combining art with state-of-the-art equipment, it embodies a new pursuit of excellence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemaker\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eGuillaume Pouthier\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ePessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eAmong the classic elegance of Pessac-Léognan, the Carmes top wine has carved out its own niche. Unprecedented proportions of Cabernet Franc offer a silky power which is then supported by the intensity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Within this structure, Merlot develops rounded and refined fruitiness: balance is the order of the day, ensuring a style that is complex and delicious in equal measures.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section templates\/block\/slider.twig\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slider slick-initialized slick-slider\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slick-list draggable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slick-track\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2016 was a year of contrasts, starting with a mild and rainy winter followed by a spring which remained gloomy right up until late June. The growing cycle was delayed accordingly, but flowering occurred during a precious spell of dry weather which ensured that the fruit was plentiful and of consistent quality. Summer was exceptionally dry, with no rain on over 100 days throughout 2016, halting the growth of the vines in time for the grapes to mature perfectly. A welcome dose of rain in early September tempered this maturing process at just the right time, without sacrificing the concentration accrued over the hot, dry summer. Finally, a dry and mild start to the autumn gave us an exceptionally generous amount of room for manoeuvre when it came to selecting the right harvest dates. These conditions have combined to produce wines of rich colour and dazzling aromatic power, whose balance of tannins, acidity and smooth texture will make for both short-term pleasure and long-term joy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReaders looking for the next superstar in Bordeaux need to jump on the bandwagon of Les Carmes Haut-Brion, who have produced one of the wines of the vintage in 2016. The 2016 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion checks in as a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that hit 13.8% natural alcohol and spent 22 months in 65% new French oak. Its deep purple color is followed by a complex bouquet of high-class smoke tobacco, decaying flowers, charcoal, gravelly minerality and loads of sweet black and blue fruit. Possessing full-bodied richness, flawless integration of its acidity, fruit, and ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster finish, this is another 2016 that possess both power and elegance. Do your best to hide bottles for 5-7 years and it will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss it. Tasted twice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e99 Points - The Wine Cellar Insider\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe initial blast of crushed rock, salty tannins and pure, deep, red fruits is all it takes to get hooked here. The nose, with its smoky, cigar box, flowers, leafy herbs, wet earth and sweet cherry notes might have started the show, but it is the intensity and purity in the fruit on the palate, with the 50 second finish that makes it all work. This is a star in the making! I am pointing this out because even though this vintage seems to have doubled in price since we initially raved about it, for a wine of this quality, it is well worth the price. 99 Points\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 Points - James Suckling\u003cu\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eTerrific ripeness, depth and complexity on offer here. This has a very attractive array of bright, ripe blueberries and cassis with some leafy and earthy notes. The palate has a quite deep, long and vibrant array of perfectly ripe dark plums and blueberries. So good. Best vintage this decade. Try from 2023.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points - Vinous\u003cu\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe 2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is consistent with previous bottles. It soars from the glass with those (to use a word I used last time) disarming array of blackberry, iris, and fig aromas, but displaying a little more blue fruit than I recall. The palate is very well balanced with a velvety texture, pure with just a hint of black pepper. Interestingly, the 65% whole bunches are barely noticeable, just a guiding hand that shapes the finish. Sapid yet tender, this is an outstanding Pessac-Léognan. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003cu\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe 2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 65% new and 35% one-year-old oak for 22 months. This vintage represents one of the largest percentages of Cabernet Franc for this wine. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it gives notes of kirsch, black raspberries and black plums with touches of cassis, violets, chocolate box and pencil shavings. The palate is medium-bodied, firm, grainy and lively with loads of layers and a long, well-poised finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Duclot","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51010922709297,"sku":null,"price":299.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/Chateau_Les_Carmes_Haut-Brion_Pessac-Leognan_Bordeaux_France_2016.jpg?v=1742740967","url":"https:\/\/marchantofwine.com\/products\/chateau-les-carmes-haut-brion-pessac-leognan-bordeaux-france-2016","provider":"Merchant of Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}