Château LES CARMES HAUT-BRION 2022
Located on the immediate outskirts of the city of Bordeaux, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion occupies a unique position within the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Its vineyard rests on deep gravel soils combined with clay-limestone horizons, in an environment where urban proximity contrasts with the very well-preserved character of the estate. Under the direction of Guillaume Pouthier, the estate has asserted for several years a particularly identifiable style, based on the finesse of extractions, freshness, and a significant emphasis on Cabernet Franc. The high planting density and precise soil work contribute to this search for depth without heaviness. Cabernet Franc brings a floral, spicy, and vertical dimension to the wine, while Cabernet Sauvignon strengthens the structure and Merlot adds flesh. Whole cluster harvesting also plays an important role in the vinifications, giving the wines energy and texture that clearly distinguish them in the Bordeaux landscape. The 2022 vintage is a particularly intense interpretation of this identity, in a warm year where the estate managed to preserve remarkable freshness and balance.
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2022 blends 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot. Manual harvesting allows working each plot according to its own maturity and precisely selecting the grapes destined for the grand vin. A significant proportion of whole clusters is retained during vinification, a method now characteristic of the estate and intended to bring aromatic freshness, tension, and tannic complexity. Fermentations are conducted with particularly measured extractions, more based on infusion than on seeking power. The long maceration thus allows progressively building the structure without hardening the matter. The aging combines different containers, notably barrels, large wooden volumes, and jars, to refine the texture while preserving the fruit's energy. In this sunny vintage, this approach yields a dense but remarkably elegant wine, whose natural concentration remains balanced by deep freshness.
The color presents a very dark purple hue, with an almost opaque core. The nose unfolds blackberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry, accompanied by violet, peony, and a remarkable graphite dimension. Aeration reveals notes of pepper, licorice, cocoa, and precious wood, while a mentholated nuance brings freshness. The palate has a deep but surprisingly airy matter, with fine tannins that envelop the palate without creating a massive sensation. Cabernet Franc brings a floral and spicy tension that crosses the richness of the black fruit, while Cabernet Sauvignon extends the structure on a mineral framework. The finish is long, saline, and slightly smoky, leaving an impression of precision rather than power. Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2022 will accompany roasted pigeon, beef fillet with cep mushrooms, rack of lamb, veal sweetbreads with morels, or cuisine centered around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot
