2016, Château Les Carmes Haut Brion, PESSAC-LÉOGNAN, Grand Vin de Graves

Bordeaux Blend: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion contains 65% whole bunches and is the first to be partially aged in foudres and amphora. This has a very clean, precise and intense bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, crushed stone and iris petal scents. Extra focused. The palate is medium-bodied with chiselled tannins, highly energetic and tensile with a precise finish that lingers long in the mouth. Sapid and engaging, this is a brilliant Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. 96 Neal Martin, Vinous.

The 2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Breathtaking in its beauty, the 2016 soars from the glass with stunning aromatic and flavour intensity. Red cherry jam, wild flowers, mint, blood orange and sage are some of many notes that develop. In the glass, the 2016 is a vivid, statuesque, exotic wine that takes over all the senses as it delivers tons of pure pleasure. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2016 for at least a few years, but that will be virtually impossible. The 2016 is a towering masterpiece from Les Carmes Haut-Brion and Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier. Tasted three times. 98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

With 51% whole-bunch fermentation for the Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this is the highest proportion in this wine. This is just gorgeous, with a beautiful sweetness on the attack from ripe fruit and a touch of smoked caramel. It really rises through the palate, gripped by liquorice, hazelnut, dark chocolate and black cherry fruits that ripple through the palate. I loved this wine En primeur and it is absolutely living up to its billing. It has an IPT of 90, but the tannins are full of life, yielding in just the right places while still confident and keeping everything in line.Great persistency too. 3.49pH. 80% new oak, 10% Stockinger and 10% amphoras. 96 Jane Anson, Decanter.

Refined, if a bit closed in at this stage, slowly revealing blackberry, juicy damson and tobacco leaf. The palate comes across with wet stone, much more 'mineral' in expression and less fruit-forward than the Haut-Bailly. Can stand up to venison or a zesty rack of lamb. 96 Panos Kakaviatos, Decanter.

Drinking Window: 2024 - 2055