Chateau La Tour Carnet 2018

Noticeable oak spice, powerful attack, firm in character, rugged, tannins with a perceptible grain, finishing fresh, at this stage still a bit dry and shaped by the maturation.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 la Tour Carnet is a little closed and broody to begin, slowly unfurling to offer glimpses of tar, star anise, damp soil and tapenade with a core of stewed plums and boysenberries, plus a waft of cassis. The medium-bodied palate has lovely freshness and bags of savory-laced black fruits framed by rounded tannins, finishing with a lively lift.

Cassis and cherry notes stream through, laced with light anise, black tea and sweet tobacco accents along the way. A late tug of earth on the finish adds nice contrast. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028. 48,300 cases made.

Clear, rippling black cherry and raspberry fruits; beautiful aromatics with floral edging. This has a pretty tight layer of tannins to navigate through before you get to the fruit, but it is early days and this has plenty of distinction to suggest that it will age well. Has character, but needs a good few years to soften.

Blueberries, plums and blackberries, as well as herbal notes. It’s medium- to full-bodied with solid, tight tannins. Fine texture with pleasant acidity and a nice grain. Blackcurrant and light tar on the finish. Try after 2024.

The 2018 La Tour Carnet is not quite as overripe as I feared on the nose, though I have still tasted plenty of other vintages that show more delineation. It turns very earthy with aeration and over several hours of opening, if anything, closes up instead of opens. The palate is medium-bodied with dense, grippy tannins. There is adequate freshness here, although some sinew on the finish takes away from its finesse. Give this some bottle age and I suspect it will repay you.

Licorice, espresso, chocolate, plums, black cherry and jam pop up with little effort. The wine is full-bodied, rich and fleshy with length and loads of ripe, dark red fruits in the lush finish.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Dark berry conserve on the nose with delicate nougat and tobacco and hints of cedar and liquorice. Juicy, ripe plum and black cherry, well-integrated tannins, fine extract sweetness, long with some chocolate on the finish. Good ageing potential. (2020-2040)

Lots of impressive cassis and currant fruit as well as tobacco, lead pencil, new leather, and spice notes emerge from the 2018 Château Tour Carnet. It's a medium- to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant 2018 with good concentration, ripe tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and outstanding length. It's well worth buying multiple bottles and is going to drink brilliantly for 15 years or more.

Purplish red with garnet highlights. Concentrated bouquet packed with blackcurrants, exotic precious woods and plum compote. On the powerful palate, a soft texture and a splendid, fine-grained extract richness—a muscle-bound tannin monster. In the focused finish, a long crescendo of elderberry and sloe juice, ending with noticeable astringency. Patience is required, but the potential is outstanding!

Kunz barrel sample 19: Dense, dark, closed bouquet, black berries, currants, licorice, mocha. Dense, powerful palate with a muscular structure, fine-grained tannins, a solid, core-driven frame, dark fruit, long, bitter finish.

Dense, dark, closed bouquet, black berries, currants, liquorice, mocha. Dense, powerful palate with a muscular structure, finely sandy tannins, a well-core structure, dark fruit, long, austere finish. 17/20 2026 - 2038

La Tour Carnet 2018 is deep garnet purple in color. It offers cedar and dried herbs, with subtle notes of redcurrant jelly and cassis, plus a touch of crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate has chewy tannins and a lively backbone, with an herbal finish.

Deep garnet red. An appealing, inviting bouquet, both intense and refined. Notes of pepper, coffee and black berries. Luscious character with a slightly creamy palate. It seems to me that this reflects the finesse and charm of La Tour Carnet, reminiscent of the exceptional 2001, for example. This wine is balanced, well supported by its tannins, and built to age.

The nose is fruity and offers subtle power/intensity. It reveals notes of blackcurrant, blackberry and, more slightly, cherry, with fine hints of crisp wild strawberry and flowers, as well as very discreet touches of peony, licorice and caramelization. The palate is fruity, balanced and offers good definition, minerality, freshness, indulgence, a very finely tight grain and a delicate juicy/mineral backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy raspberry, fleshy/juicy blackberry and, more slightly, fleshy/juicy blackcurrant, with fine touches of fleshy/juicy red berries, as well as a very discreet hint of peony, almond and toasty/vanilla. The tannins are well-handled and slightly velvety. Good length.

The vineyards surrounding the 12th-century castle have produced this rich and densely structured wine. Powerful tannins give a smoky character to the ripe, black-plum fruits. It definitely needs aging, so drink from 2026.