Les Carmes Haut Brion- Angry Wine Merchant Les Carmes Haut Brion- Angry Wine Merchant 2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion
Les Carmes Haut Brion- Angry Wine Merchant
Les Carmes Haut Brion- Angry Wine Merchant
2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion
2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion
2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion

2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Red Bordeaux Blend

France / Bordeaux / Graves  / Pessac-Leognan

$795
JD 97
RP 99
V 96
Size:
Quantity:

2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, France

This was a year of… ... Involvement. Humility. Responsiveness. Delicacy.
Autumn was slow to set in, with the first cold spells and little water. Fortunately, the days didn’t fail to shorten and the vines quietly entered the winter. A calm, cool and fairly dry winter.
Early mild weather in March. A few shivers at bud burst, then rain. Mild and humid. One, the other or both. It took exceptional presence on the part of the team of winegrowers to act with decisive precision and speed. For us, this is the only way to take care of our vines: to be there, to observe and to act to the nearest millimetre, minute by minute.
At the end of the summer, the vintage mapped out more clearly. Harvest conditions were fine, so we could be completely flexible in our choices to express the uniqueness of each of these little places that make up the wines of Les Carmes.
In the cellar, we went even further with infusion - submerged cap vinification. We have entered a new phase with the use of tailor-made tools, based on our experiments with extraction in recent vintages. As for ageing, the further we go, the more we are willing to abandon a set protocol in favour of a different approach for each wine, depending on its profile and progress. Choosing not to choose... in advance.
Embracing this complexity. We plan to let ourselves be surprised, to taste what the wines have to say to us, to bring them to the bottle with the right touch, for several more exciting months.

Full-bodied to tubular, the wines are now stretching out. Freshness and drinkability the watchwords. Explosive delicacy, mineral finesse, sappy, resinous atmosphere, notes of iris and violet, elderflower, black and tangy. 
Harvest dates: 11 to 25 Sept. 2023
Whole bunches: 60%
Blend: 50% Cabernet Franc,
30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
Analysis: 13.5% alc. vol. - pH 3.62
Ageing (in progress): 70% new barrels,
20% vats of 18hl, 10% amphoras.

JD 97

Jeb Dunnuck

As to the Grand Vin 2023 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, this beauty checks in as 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot that was fermented with 60% whole cluster, brought up in 70% new barrels, with a good portion in foudre and amphora. It has a deep ruby/purple hue and vibrant aromatics of cassis and black cherries as well as leafy tobacco, spring flowers, woodsmoke, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, it stays tight and compact on the palate, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful precision and focus, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and outstanding length. It’s incredibly elegant, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this gain mid-palate density over the course of its élevage. It’s going to be long-lived. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: August 2024. Drinking window: .
RP 99

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Guillaume Pouthier and his team have once again crafted one of Bordeaux's most unique and characterful wines. Revealing aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with notions of vine smoke, orange zest, rose petals and spices, the 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with a powerful, vibrant and complete mid-palate, concluding with a long, ethereal and mouthwateringly saline finish. Sensual, suave and seamless, its beautifully refined tannins are, analytically, more abundant than even those of the 2022 vintage, yet they are so brilliantly integrated as to be near-imperceptible. This blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot is crafted for longevity, though its refined structure will make it surprisingly approachable at an early age. It's maturing 70% in new oak barrels, 20% in 18-hectoliter foudres and 10% in amphorae. A creditable yield of 50 hectoliters per hectare represents a decided agronomic success in what was a challenging growing season. Reviewed by Yohan Castaing, Issue date: April 2024. Drinking window: 2025 - 2065.
V 96

Vinous

The 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is increasingly a wine of seamlessness. Whereas the various components were once easily discernible, today Carmes is most often a wine of total beauty. The 2023 is a bit shy, especially in its aromatics. In other words, a pretty big departure from so many other recent vintages that have been far showier at this stage. Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier explains that he plans to give the 2023 longer aging, around 24-26 months, so he approached vinification and the early part of aging in a more reductive style than in the past. As always, Les Carmes is marked by its strong presence of Cabernet Franc and use of whole clusters, but as mentioned above, those signatures are less immediately evident than they once were. Les Carmes has been one of Bordeaux's stars over the last few years. I can't wait to see how the 2023 turns out. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, Issue date: April 2024. Drinking window: 2035 - 2073.

Domestic Shipping

We currently ship to all U.S. states where the shipment of alcohol is legally permitted. Orders are fulfilled via UPS.

Orders placed Monday through Thursday before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time typically ship the same day. Orders placed after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday will ship the following Monday.

Same-day delivery may be available within the Los Angeles Metro area if placed before noon. Please contact us at (626) 714-7006 to arrange expedited local service.

Packaging & Warm Weather Shipping

To protect wine quality, all orders are packed in EPS foam shippers with gel packs when necessary. During warmer months, we recommend selecting Next Day Air service. If Ground shipping is selected during high temperatures, a signed waiver may be required to release us from liability due to heat exposure.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, bottles are removed and shipped in foam for safety. The wooden case ships separately via Ground unless otherwise requested.

Weather Holds & Free Storage

In periods of extreme weather, we reserve the right to delay shipment until safe conditions return. If you request immediate shipment during such periods, you must confirm in writing and acknowledge that you waive any condition guarantees.

We also offer complimentary temperature-controlled storage for up to 6 months from the date of purchase. Select the “Hold for Weather” option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping at a later date.

Insurance

We provide free shipping insurance for loss or visible damage during transit, per carrier terms and conditions.

Adult Signature Required

All shipments of alcohol require an adult signature (21+) upon delivery. Carriers will not release packages without adult authorization. Additional charges may apply for re-delivery, redirection, or failed delivery attempts.

Shipping Address Accuracy

Orders are shipped to the exact shipping address provided at checkout. Angry Wine Merchant is not responsible for errors or omissions in the address submitted by the customer. If a package is delayed, returned, or misdelivered due to incorrect shipping details, the customer assumes full responsibility. Additional shipping fees may apply if re-shipment is required. By placing an order, you confirm that the shipping address entered is correct and agree to these terms.

States We Ship To

We ship to the following U.S. states:

Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)

*******************************

International Shipping

We do offer international shipping where legally allowed. For details, click here or contact us directly.

  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
JD 97

Jeb Dunnuck

As to the Grand Vin 2023 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, this beauty checks in as 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot that was fermented with 60% whole cluster, brought up in 70% new barrels, with a good portion in foudre and amphora. It has a deep ruby/purple hue and vibrant aromatics of cassis and black cherries as well as leafy tobacco, spring flowers, woodsmoke, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, it stays tight and compact on the palate, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful precision and focus, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and outstanding length. It’s incredibly elegant, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this gain mid-palate density over the course of its élevage. It’s going to be long-lived. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: August 2024. Drinking window: .
RP 99

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Guillaume Pouthier and his team have once again crafted one of Bordeaux's most unique and characterful wines. Revealing aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with notions of vine smoke, orange zest, rose petals and spices, the 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with a powerful, vibrant and complete mid-palate, concluding with a long, ethereal and mouthwateringly saline finish. Sensual, suave and seamless, its beautifully refined tannins are, analytically, more abundant than even those of the 2022 vintage, yet they are so brilliantly integrated as to be near-imperceptible. This blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot is crafted for longevity, though its refined structure will make it surprisingly approachable at an early age. It's maturing 70% in new oak barrels, 20% in 18-hectoliter foudres and 10% in amphorae. A creditable yield of 50 hectoliters per hectare represents a decided agronomic success in what was a challenging growing season. Reviewed by Yohan Castaing, Issue date: April 2024. Drinking window: 2025 - 2065.
V 96

Vinous

The 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is increasingly a wine of seamlessness. Whereas the various components were once easily discernible, today Carmes is most often a wine of total beauty. The 2023 is a bit shy, especially in its aromatics. In other words, a pretty big departure from so many other recent vintages that have been far showier at this stage. Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier explains that he plans to give the 2023 longer aging, around 24-26 months, so he approached vinification and the early part of aging in a more reductive style than in the past. As always, Les Carmes is marked by its strong presence of Cabernet Franc and use of whole clusters, but as mentioned above, those signatures are less immediately evident than they once were. Les Carmes has been one of Bordeaux's stars over the last few years. I can't wait to see how the 2023 turns out. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, Issue date: April 2024. Drinking window: 2035 - 2073.

2023 Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, France

This was a year of… ... Involvement. Humility. Responsiveness. Delicacy.
Autumn was slow to set in, with the first cold spells and little water. Fortunately, the days didn’t fail to shorten and the vines quietly entered the winter. A calm, cool and fairly dry winter.
Early mild weather in March. A few shivers at bud burst, then rain. Mild and humid. One, the other or both. It took exceptional presence on the part of the team of winegrowers to act with decisive precision and speed. For us, this is the only way to take care of our vines: to be there, to observe and to act to the nearest millimetre, minute by minute.
At the end of the summer, the vintage mapped out more clearly. Harvest conditions were fine, so we could be completely flexible in our choices to express the uniqueness of each of these little places that make up the wines of Les Carmes.
In the cellar, we went even further with infusion - submerged cap vinification. We have entered a new phase with the use of tailor-made tools, based on our experiments with extraction in recent vintages. As for ageing, the further we go, the more we are willing to abandon a set protocol in favour of a different approach for each wine, depending on its profile and progress. Choosing not to choose... in advance.
Embracing this complexity. We plan to let ourselves be surprised, to taste what the wines have to say to us, to bring them to the bottle with the right touch, for several more exciting months.

Full-bodied to tubular, the wines are now stretching out. Freshness and drinkability the watchwords. Explosive delicacy, mineral finesse, sappy, resinous atmosphere, notes of iris and violet, elderflower, black and tangy. 
Harvest dates: 11 to 25 Sept. 2023
Whole bunches: 60%
Blend: 50% Cabernet Franc,
30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
Analysis: 13.5% alc. vol. - pH 3.62
Ageing (in progress): 70% new barrels,
20% vats of 18hl, 10% amphoras.

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