Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion 2018

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty!"

WEINWISSER: "Purpurrot mit aufhellendem Rand. Verführerisches Bouquet mit frischem Schattenmorellensaft, betörender Cassisblüte und roten Johannisbeeren, dahinter Lakritze und Brasiltabak. Am kaskadenartigen Gaumen mit einer beeindruckenden Souplesse und Finesse, stützendes reifes Tanningerüst, schokoladiges Extrakt, der Wein wirkt trotzdem tänzerisch. Im gebündelten energiegeladenen Finale ein Feuerwerk von roten und blauen Früchten, schwarze Olivenpaste, Sandelholz und dunkle Terroirwürze. Phänomenale Leistung von Guillaume Pouthier!"

DECANTER: "A beautiful nuance of salty caramel is clear even on the nose. On the palate, the concentration and focus is immediately clear, uplifted by touches of gentle salinity. There is really a sense of place and of being itself which I always love about this wine. It's closed of course, but with an unrolling of sappy black fruits, and a freshness that gives you confidence in its future. So much pleasure to be had here, with notes of chocolate, peony and liquorice. Extremely successful, as it was en primeur. 3.62pH. 53% whole-bunch fermentation. IPT95. Harvested 13-28 September. Ageing is mostly in large oak casks, 76% new, plus 9% aged in amphorae. Drinking Window 2026 - 2044."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Aromatically, this beauty kicks off with an array of just-picked flowers, smoky, dark red and black fruits, licorice, herbs, wet earth, cigar box, forest leaf, and salty, crushed rocks. Deeply colored, concentrated, full-bodied, elegant, soft, refined and pure on the palate, the seamless finish keeps on going with layers of fresh, ripe, sweet, sensuously textured fruits. The wine is a blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot, 13.75% ABV. This has the potential to age and evolve for 2-3 decades with ease."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The essence of black fruit here, offering blackberry and brambleberry aromas with dried flowers and licorice. Crushed stones and some iodine, as well as nuts. Full-bodied palate that opens and delivers an encompassing mouth feel of fine, creamy tannins. Some whole-berry fermentation. A special wine with elegance and complexity. Try after 2026, but already so in tune."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is composed of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. It was made using 52% whole cluster and has 13.75% alcohol. It was aged in 75% new oak barriques, 16% foudres and 9% amphorae. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing before bursting from the glass with vibrant scents blackberry preserves, redcurrant jelly, mulberries and Black Forest cake, leading to an undercurrent of pencil lead, black truffles, cast-iron pan and charcoal with an emerging waft of violets. The elegantly crafted, medium-bodied palate dances with red and black fruits before bursting into earth and mineral sparks. It has a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and savory. The stem tannins lend this wine a firmness and textural interest, which should integrate further with another 5-6 years in barrel, allowing the nuances to shine through even more, then you can continue to enjoy its slow evolution for a further 30+ years."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This wine has bold, ripe black fruits and fine acidity. Its structure shows well through the fruitiness of the wine. This will certainly age well."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Juicy and fresh, with a vivid beam of cassis and cherry puree laced with hints of anise, tobacco and apple wood. The finish is focused and driven, while a tarry streak adds range and depth, showing nicely buried mouthwatering acidity throughout. Very expressive already, but this should develop nicely with cellaring as well. Best from 2023 through 2034."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Etwas zurückhaltend, feines dunkles Waldbeerkonfit, dezente Kräuterwürze, Nuancen von Kirschen, etwas Nougat, dezenter Edelholztouch unterlegt. Straff, engmaschig, feine süße Kirschfrucht, würzige, präsente Tannine, die noch etwas spröde wirken, sehr lebendiger Stil, salzige Mineralität im Abgang, Nougat im Rückgeschmack."