Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion 2025

Falstaff: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Reife dunkle Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Zwetschken, floraler Touch, angenehme Kräuterwürze, etwas Nougat und Orangenzesten. Komplex, dabei lebendig, reife Kirschen und Heidelbeeren, feine, reife Tannine, geht im Mund förmlich auf, zarte Extraktsüße, bleibt minutenlang haften, bereits in der Jugend sehr überzeugend, Cassis und reife Kirschen im Nachhall, delikat und facettenreich, großes Zukunftspotenzial."

James Suckling: The precision is so seductive and intellectual, with aromas of fresh flowers, iron, graphite, cedar, blood oranges and black fruit. It's medium-bodied with a compact palate of intense tannins that melt into the wine. Rather weightless in nature. It kicks in at the end with incredible intensity and focus. 13% alcohol. 65% whole cluster. 54% cabernet franc, 29% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot, mostly co-fermented."

Vinum: (54% CF, 29% CS, 17% Merlot, 65% Ganztrauben, 80% Neuholz, 3.59 pH) Dunkel, fast schwarz im Kern; in der Nase ein Cabernet-Duft wie aus dem Bilderbuch, strahlend, frisch, feinwürzig und burgundisch anmutend, faszinierend floral, mit Veilchenblüten, dazu exotische Gewürze; am Gaumen fokussiert, straff im Auftakt, breitet sich aus, füllt den Mund ohne dabei schwerfällig zu sein, der Wein macht es einem bereits als Fassmuster schwer, zu spucken, ungemein saftig, voller Energie, Rasse und Lebensfreude, ein zarter Hauch von Bitterstoff verleiht zusätzlich zu einer hervorragenden Säure eine Frische, die seinesgleichen sucht; im Abgang von ausgezeichneter Länge. Ein hochkomplexer Les Carmes Haut-Brion, der früh zugänglich sein wird und doch für eine kleine Ewigkeit gebaut ist."

The Wine Cellar Insider: Almost opaque in color, it takes no effort to dig into the floral display. From there you encounter black cherries, licorice, spice box, menthol, cigar wrappers, blackberries and crushed rocks in the aromas. The palate is what steals the show with its vivid display of black, with red fruits, elegant, silky textures, and most importantly, purity of fruit. The velvety finish spreads all over your palate with touches of sea-salt, cocoa, Indian spices and lingering, dark fruits. Clearly, this is in competition with the best vintages the estate has ever produced. The ability to manage the potential of hydric stress, due to their terroir is a large part of what helped make 2025 such a success. The wine was made using 65% whole bunch clusters, blending 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Merlot. It is interesting to note this is the highest percentage of Cabernet ever included in the blend. I think it really works here. 13% ABV, pH 3.59. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 19% foudres, and 11% amphora. Picking took place September 7- September 19. Drink from 2029-2065."

Decanter: Gorgeously fragrant on the nose with so many perfumed scents - violets, iris, peonies, cinnamon, exotic spices, black chocolate, something slightly sweet and aromatic with blackcurrant and dark bramble berries. Succulent and juicy with a powdery element to the tannins that fills the mouth straight away. I love the integration of the acidity - this has brightness but is also quite calm and charming, softer than expected. Sleek, sophisticated, full of complexity and nuance yet with real depth, intensity, concentration and integrity. Very true to place and to Guillaume Pouthier’s style. Succulent and floral Cabernets, aromatic all the way through, super long, graceful and full of width and flavour while staying clean. Ripe with tannins that fill the mouth - fleshy, grippy but wide and lifted - giving a gorgeous texture. A little citrus tang to the acidity but overall full of life and focus. Brilliant. 3.59pH. A yield of 38hl/ha overall (29hl/ha Merlot, 45hl/ha Cabernet Sauvignon). 65% whole bunch fermentation."

Jeb Dunnuck: Deeper-hued than the C des Carmes cuvée, with a gorgeous perfume of red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with graphite, leafy herbs, iris, and subtle floral, minty, and almost peppery nuances, the 2025 Château Carmes Haut-Brion is based on 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot, vinified with 65% whole clusters. On the palate, it's wonderfully textured and medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered, expansive mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins. I love its overall balance, it has no hard edges, and while there's plenty of tannins here (IPT 82), they're perfectly integrated and polished. It checks in at 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.59, and this is just loaded with charm and character."

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion needs a little patient swirling to bring out notes of juicy blueberries, black raspberries, and black cherries, followed by hints of fragrant soil, lilacs, and tar, plus a waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is electric with energetic blue, black, and red berry layers, framed by firm yet very fine-grained, silt-like tannins and a crisp line, finishing very long with loads of floral and mineral sparks. The blend is 17% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 54% Cabernet Franc. The alcohol is 13% with a pH of 3.59. This is made with 65% whole cluster, and it is aging in 70% new barrels, with 19% in vats of 30 hectoliters and 11% in amphorae."