Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion 2022

- 100 Punkte VINOUS, Antonio Galloni: „The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a towering masterpiece from Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier. Dark and seamless in the glass, the 2022 presents an exotic mélange of black cherry, lavender, sage, blood orange, menthol, espresso and dried flowers, showing tremendous depth and substance in all of its dimensions. Time in the glass hints as to what is to come in the years and decades that follow. The 2022 is a co-ferment of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot done with 70% stems that saw six full weeks on the skins. Élevage is 70% new oak, 20% 18HL cask and 10% amphora. Most importantly, all the elements are so well balanced that nothing sticks out. Instead, it is the wine's total sense of harmony that is mind-blowing. Magnificent. 2030-2072“

- 100 Punkte Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Yohan Castaing: „The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the finest wine bottled to date at this estate under Patrice Pichet's ownership and Guillaume Pouthier's direction. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of violet, iris, dark wild berries, pencil lead and mulberries, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated with a deep core of fruit beautifully framed by velvety, precise tannins, segueing into a long, saline and perfumed finish. Suave and harmonious, it was crafted with 70% whole bunches and matured in 70% new oak. This unconventional blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot represents a turning point for the estate, cementing its rapid ascendancy in the Bordeaux firmament. 2032-2062.“

- 100 Punkte DECANTER Georgina Hindle: „Deep and brooding, this wine is beautifully floral with violets, irises, and peonies alongside ripe black cherries, liquorice, and dark chocolate. Concentrated yet bursting with energy, it flows effortlessly across the palate. Vibrant red fruits - strawberry, cherry, raspberry - sit atop a mineral backbone of salty, wet stones. Crisp yet powdery tannins and bright acidity give incredible tension. Despite its depth, it feels almost weightless, so drinkable yet built to age. Pure, pristine, and vibrant, with no trace of heat - just balance and finesse. Juicy, lively, and utterly compelling. A true expression of place and a sure-fire hit. 70% whole bunch fermented. Two years ageing, 80% new oak, 10% big 20hl vats and 10% amphora. 3.55pH. 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot. 2029-2050.“

- 100 VINUM Wine Magazin (10/2025): “ Leuchtendes Rubin; strahlende Nase, extrem tiefgründig, vielschichtig, Gänsehaut pur, reife Frucht, Cassis und Brombeeren, darüber florale Noten, Rauch, Lavendelblüten, Veilchen, Zedern; gradliniger Gaumen, dicht, konzentriert, sensationelle Gerbstoffe umgarnen die Frucht, kein Gramm Fett, baut dennoch enorm Druck auf, bleibt dabei hochelegant; im Abgang von grandioser Länge und mit viel Frische. Ein bewegender, großer Les Carmes Haut-Brion, verblüffend anders, als alles andere, was ich probieren konnte. 2028-2065.“

- 100 Punkte Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Yohan Castaing: „The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the finest wine bottled to date at this estate under Patrice Pichet's ownership and Guillaume Pouthier's direction. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of violet, iris, dark wild berries, pencil lead and mulberries, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated with a deep core of fruit beautifully framed by velvety, precise tannins, segueing into a long, saline and perfumed finish. Suave and harmonious, it was crafted with 70% whole bunches and matured in 70% new oak. This unconventional blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot represents a turning point for the estate, cementing its rapid ascendancy in the Bordeaux firmament. 2032-2062“

- 100 Punkte Adrian van Velsen-vvWine.ch: “ Leuchtendes Rubin; strahlende Nase, extrem tiefgründig, vielschichtig, Gänsehaut pur, reife Frucht, Cassis und Brombeeren, darüber florale Noten, Rauch, Lavendelblüten, Veilchen, Zedern; gradliniger Gaumen, dicht, konzentriert, sensationelle Gerbstoffe umgarnen die Frucht, kein Gramm Fett, baut dennoch enorm Druck auf, bleibt dabei hochelegant; im Abgang von grandioser Länge und mit viel Frische. Ein bewegender, grosser Les Carmes Haut-Brion, verblüffend anders, als alles andere, was ich probieren konnte. (Trinken von 2028 bis 2065)“

- 99-100 Punkte Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider: „The first thing you notice is the black, purple hue. Next, it its the perfume with its black, blue and red fruits, incense, curry, flowers, smoke and herbs. Opulent, restrained, elegant and powerful, the wine comes in layers. You can sense the array of exotic spices, mint, blue and black fruits, crushed rocks, black cherries and white pepper on the palate. Full-bodied and dense, the wine somehow remains light on its feet. The end notes, meshing elegance and power bring everything together, as the finish crosses the 60 second mark. This is perhaps even better than the perfect, 2016! The wine was made using 70% whole bunch clusters during fermentation. From a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot, 13.5% ABV, pH 3.6. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 20% foudres and 10% amphora. Picking took place September 5 - September 22. Yields were 40 hectoliters per hectares. Drink from 2025-2050.“

- 99 Punkte James Suckling (02/2025): „The purity and focus here is impressive with blackcurrants, crushed stones and floral undertones. The whole-bunch character comes through clearly with rose-stem and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, this is always so delicious but has lots of integrated, open-grained tannins. 70% whole-cluster fermentation. 40% cabernet franc, 34% cabernet sauvignon and 26% merlot. Idiosyncratic. So attractive now but will age beautifully.“

- 98 Punkte FALSTAFF, Peter Moser: “ Leuchtendes tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Floraler Touch nach kandierten Veilchen, reife rote Kirschen, ein Hauch von Brombeerkonfit, Nuancen von Lakritze, sehr vielschichtiges Bukett. Saftig, sehr komplex, straffe, reife Tannine, feine dunkle Beerenfrucht, mineralisch, feiner Vieille-Vignes-Charakter, balanciert, sehr große Länge, enormes Reifepotenzial für Jahrzehnte. Hat auch mit seinen 13,5 % ein enormes Volumen, zu jeder Zeit seidig, frisch und in seiner Art einzigartig.“