Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion 2022

Once past the dark color, the wine jumps with black cherries, flowers, blackberries, mint, and spearmint in the nose. On the palate, the fruits are clean, fresh, and pure, but not simple. You also find salt, crushed rocks, spice, and peppery, sweet, black cherries on the mid-palate and in the spicy, vivacious finish. Using 30% whole bunches in the vinification, the wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV, 3.6%. The wine is aged in 20% new, French oak barrels. As a reminder, this is not a second wine. It comes from an entirely different vineyard and blend. Drink from 2023-2035.

• Drinking Window: 2023 - 2035
• Reviewer Name: Jeff Leve

The 2022 C Des Carmes Haut-Brion is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest 1% Petit Verdot that was fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged 12 months in a new foudre (there's a small part in used barrels) followed by four months all in concrete tanks. There are fewer stems in this cuvée as the vines are younger, and it has a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a spicy, peppery, complex perfume of darker berry and plum fruits, spring flowers, tobacco leaf, and a beautiful sense of minerality. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, elegant, and loaded with character, it's a singular Pessac-Léognan that will have two decades of longevity.

• Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045
• Reviewer Name: Jeb Dunnuck

The aromas just pop out of the glass, offering plenty of flowers, pears, berries, rose stems and fresh currants. Wild fruits, too. It's full-bodied with so much juicy fruit and a creamy texture. Already open and delicious, with wonderful intensity. 30% whole-cluster fermentation. Second wine of Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Best after 2027, but fantastic now.

• Drinking Window: 2026 - 2034
• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson

The 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion is punching above its weight this year. Unfurling in the glass with a gourmand, lively and vibrant bouquet of raspberry, mulberries, rose, violet and cassis, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered with refined, velvety tannins and a deep core of fruit, concluding with a harmonious, elegant profile that avoids any excess, enhancing its distinctive personality. Guillaume Pouthier, Guillaume Deschepper and their team have done a fantastic job at this address, delivering an exceptional wine.

• Drinking Window: 2026 - 2037
• Reviewer Name: Yohan Castaing

A lovely wine, great depth of flavour, wisps of smoke and grilled coffee bean, avoids the heaviness of the vintage, and provides a distinct personality. 30% whole cluster, Guillaume Pouthier director, Guillaume Deschepper technical director, closed with wax. First year ageing in 55% new oak of differing sizes, then amphoras and cement vats for second year. From the 2023 vintage they plan to add an extra year in cement vats to ensure that the C de Carmes is fully ready to drink on release.

• Drinking Window: 2026 - 2034
• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson

The 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) from gravelly soils, will be kept for one year in bottle before release. It has 13.3% alcohol, reduced by the 30% whole cluster contribution with infusion rather than maceration, using a coffee plunger concept to push down the cap in the vat. It aged for one year in barrel and one year on foudres. The nose presents blackberry, clove and curry leaf aromas, with a touch more mint than before. The medium-bodied palate has slightly chalky tannins and is fresh thanks to the whole bunch contribution. Quite linear and a little Syrah-like towards the finish, this lovely wine will age well over the next 12 to 20 years.

• Drinking Window: 2028 - 2048
• Reviewer Name: Neal Martin