Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2014

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

par James Suckling le 16/02/2017

Extremely perfumed with violets, lavender and hot stones as well as fruit and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-bodied, firm and silky and fresh. A lovely and bright wine now. Better in 2020.

Vinous

95 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 06/02/2017

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is total knock-out. Graphite, smoke, red cherry jam, spice, cured meat, pomegranate and tobacco are just some of the myriad sensations that race out of the glass. Today, the 2014 is gloriously ample on the palate, with remarkable nuance for a wine of its size. The Carmes Haut-Brion has been terrific in two recent tastings. The blend is 54 % Cabernet Franc, 32 % Merlot and 14 % Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in oak, but with some influence of 500-liter tonneaux and 12-hectoliter casks. Simon Blanchard is the consulting oenologist. Tasted two times. 95+

Le Point

14,5 / 20

par Jacques Dupont le 21/05/2015

Fruits noirs, matière dense, moelleux, doux en milieu de bouche, un peu séché en finale par le bois à ce stade. 

Vinous

92-95 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 11/05/2015

The 2014 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is once again a real showstopper. One of the most unique wines in Pessac because of its high amount of Cabernet Franc, the Carmes Haut-Brion offers up a compelling mélange of dark red stone fruits, pomegranate, smoke, tobacco and licorice. The late harvest has resulted in a deep, ripe, super-concentrated wine endowed with tremendous depth. There may be a little freshness missing, but that is a small critique for a wine that delivers so much pleasure. The blend is 54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in oak, but with some influence of 500L tonneaux and 12HL casks. Simon Blanchard is the Consulting Oenologist. Tasted two times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 05/05/2015

Smoke, 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% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and will be aged in 80% new, French oak barrels. 92-94 Pts

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

par Neal Martin le 30/04/2015

The Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2014 is a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are being converted to organic, undergoing a 30-day cuvaison with 15% to 40% whole clusters. Around 74% of the crop is matured in 80% new oak, 16% in 1,200-liter oak foudres and the remainder in 1-year old oak. Winemaker Guillaume Pouthier (ex-Chapoutier) has fashioned a bold and opulent bouquet with macerated black cherries and boysenberry jam. But it does not really 'sing' of "Pessac-Léognan", not at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannin on the entry, but then there is a wave of ripe, black, grainy fruit infused with graphite and cedar and it finishes in a bravura fashion with a seam of coconut originating from the oak. I would want to just check how the oak integrates with time by bottling and it may merit a higher score then. It's gonna need a top wine to match the architectural ambitions of its Philippe Starck-designed winery - this is certainly going in the right direction.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 22/04/2015

Deep purple. Interesting meaty nose. Sweet and more weight of fruit than most. Very suave and polished. Excellent persistence. Though there is no getting away from the acid and tannin! 

Asian Palate

87 / 100

par Jeannie Cho Lee MW le 20/04/2015

Much better made this year than over the past several years with a supple, velvety mid-palate. Flavors are ripe with plum, red fruit and cedar on the palate - easy to drink and enjoy young.

Decanter.com

17,25 / 20

par Jane Anson le 17/04/2015

Good lift, like the structure of this wine, the tannins are supple but firm, this is a medium drinker but with ambition, can feel the well fleshed out dark fruits, a real spiciness here, bitter chocolate, high acidity, a touch austere again, lean but with impact. Important investment going on at this estate currently, one to watch. Drink: 2018-2030 (90+)

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

par James Suckling le 10/04/2015

Beautiful density of fruit with blackberry, dark chocolate and blueberry character. Full-bodied, very fine and silky. Classy for the vintage.

timatkin.com

95 / 100

par Tim Atkin MW le 07/04/2015

René Gabriel

18 / 20

par René Gabriel le 01/04/2015

54 % Cabernet Franc,44 % Merlot, 12 % Cabernet Sauvignon. 30'000 Flaschen. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violettenReflexen. Geniales Bouquet, schwarze Beeren, Holunder, Cassis, Mokkatouch, Veilchennoten, also tiefgründig und verspielt zugleich. Im Gaumen extrem elegant, hoch feine, reife Tannine, superbe Balance. Kein Bulldozer, sondern ein sehr femininer Pessac. Ein Carmes mit Charme! 18/20 2022 – 2044

Wine Enthusiast

93 / 100

par Roger Voss le 01/04/2015

92–94. Barrel Sample. Dusty tannins float in this impressive wine. It has dark layers of black fruits and acidity that cushion the dry, tannic character, with great freshness at the end.

Wine Spectator

89-92 / 100

par James Molesworth le 31/03/2015

Fleshy and open in feel already, with dark plum and blueberry notes, layered with light cocoa and fruitcake hints. Has a touch of loamy grip at the very end.