chateau les carmes haut brion 2013

at the end of 2010, patrice pichet acquired the domaine des carmes, a wonderful estate that is a work of art. after a significant investment, it inaugurated a new winery in 2016. an impressive minimalist building, designed by philippe starck and luc arsène-henry, it is equipped with the most modern equipment, but preserves all the tradition and essence of the château, with the aim of to reconsider the culture of wine and vineyards in a broader sense and to give the terroir the attention it deserves. the new winery is perfectly integrated into its environment, surrounded by ponds that are part of a beautiful urban garden that shelters the vineyards, where this majestic expression of nature contributes to the ripening of the grapes that give rise to extraordinary wines. château les carmes haut-brion is born here, the great vin del domaine, powerful and silky, which reflects all the classic elegance of pessac-léognan (bordeaux). it is made from a blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, grown on predominantly gravel soils on clay-calcareous bedrock and harvested by hand. château les carmes haut-brion is the pride of the estate. a round, complex and delicious red; an example of the harmonious balance between strength and finesse, fruit and depth. the new domaine les carmes haut-brion winery, in addition to being a work of art in itself, houses an exquisite communion between poetry and human talent. it is also a place of inspiration for artists who have left their mark on the walls of this space, creating a creative embrace with the mysterious beauty that accompanies the creation of magnificent wines. opaque ruby-purple colour: one of the darkest left bank wines of the year. blackberry, mint jelly and fresh herbs on the nose, enhanced by a penetrating floral note. next, very tannic on entry, with black fruit and herbaceous flavors wrapped tightly in an oaky shroud. this melancholy wine hints at a higher concentration of underlying fruit of blackberry and spicy strawberry than the 2013 mid red. les carmes consistently has one of the highest percentages of cabernet franc among pessac-leognan wines and, while often clumsy at first , tends to bloom with age.