Château LES CARMES HAUT-BRION 2020
At the edge of Bordeaux, in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion occupies a unique terroir of Mindelian gravel resting on a clay-limestone base. The property belongs to the Pichet family and its vineyard is managed under the direction of Guillaume Pouthier, who has deeply affirmed the contemporary style of the cru. The planting density reaches 10,000 vines per hectare and the average age of the vines was 42 years in 2020. Cabernet Franc holds a particularly important place here, giving the wine an identity different from many other great reds of the Graves. This high presence brings aromatic finesse, tension, and a texture often more airy than one would expect from the natural depth of the terroir. The estate today combines a very precise approach to ripeness with unusual winemaking choices in Bordeaux, notably a significant portion of whole cluster fermentation and the use of terracotta jars during aging. The 2020 vintage particularly illustrates this search for balance between intensity, energy, and delicacy.
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2020 blends 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot. The harvest, entirely manual, took place from September 14 to 26. The grapes were not crushed and 50% of the harvest was vinified as whole clusters, a choice that helps preserve freshness, aromatic relief, and tannic finesse. Fermentations and macerations take place in temperature-controlled stainless steel, concrete, and wood vats, with an average maceration of about 35 days. Aging extends over 24 months, divided between 80% new barrels, 11% 18-hectoliter casks, and 9% terracotta and stoneware jars. This combination allows accompanying the concentration of the vintage while avoiding an expression dominated exclusively by wood. With an alcohol content of 13.5% and a pH of 3.62, the wine combines ripeness and freshness in a particularly precise structure.
The color shows remarkable depth, with a dark core with purple nuances. The nose opens on blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, then evolves towards violet, graphite, and fine spices. Aeration reveals notes of cocoa, tobacco, licorice, and a floral touch recalling the central place of Cabernet Franc. The palate is dense but particularly fluid, with fine tannins that give more an impression of texture than power. The black fruit remains precise, extended by smoky, mineral, and spicy nuances. The finish is distinguished by its length, freshness, and a slight saline sensation that perfectly balances the richness of the vintage. Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2020 will accompany roasted pigeon, beef fillet, rack of lamb, veal sweetbreads with morels, or cuisine featuring black truffle.
Grape varieties: 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot
