1995 Les Carmes Haut Brion
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Tasting notes
The 1995 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a vintage that I have not encountered before and predates the arrival of winemaker Guillaume Pouthier, with a very different, traditional winemaking regime. It has an earthy, tobacco, mulch-tinged bouquet, perhaps now just missing a little vigor. The palate is medium-bodied and fully mature, very Graves-like in style, with a touch of greenness towards the attenuated finish. It's actually not bad considering its age, though I would not leave bottles much longer. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
A classic example of Graves' smoky, tobacco-tinged, berry fruit, this small jewel of an estate (not far from Haut-Brion and Pape-Clement) has produced a medium-bodied, sweet, round, berry, complex, elegant, savory 1995 with no hard edges. Low acidity and a luscious, ripe Merlot component dominate the wine, giving it immediate appeal. This is a plump, delicious wine for consuming over the next decade.
About the producer
One of the most exciting properties in Bordeaux, Les Carmes Haut-Brion technically sits within the city’s limits today. Guillaume Pouthier arrived in 2012 and, under his tenure, the property has been elevated to the highest ranks.