Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2020

The signature of a fine red wine from Pessac-Léognan

The estate

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, a large property in Pessac-Léognan, is located on Bordeaux's Left Bank. Founded in the 16th century, this estate today delivers an expression of its terroir through the work of its visionary owner and the master craftsmen working in the winery. Acquired in 2010 by the Pichet real estate group, Château Les Carmes-Haut-Brion is today one of the most distinguished wines of Bordeaux's Left Bank.

The vineyard

The nearly 40-year-old vines are planted on 30.75 hectares of vineyards. Only 7.60 are used for the production of the First Wine of Les Carmes Haut-Brion. This vineyard, planted in Mindel gravel on a clay-limestone base, produces a great Pessac-Léognan wine.

The vintage

The particularly rainy winter preceded a tropical spring, favourable for the development of the vines, but which, combined with historic rainfall, required plenty of work in the vineyard. The month of June, the coolest recorded in the last five years, slowed the phenological advance of the previous months without affecting the flowering. While the summer was particularly dry, the water reserves were sufficient and the rather balmy nights, especially in August, created ideal conditions to refine the ripeness of the fruit until in time for the harvest.

Winemaking and ageing

Harvested manually, the grapes were vinified in tapered stainless steel vats, concrete vats and oak vats. No crushing. 35 days vatting. Ageing lasted 24 months in new barrels (80%), casks (11%) and earthenware vessels (9%).

Blend

The 2020 Château Les Carmes-Haut-Brion is made from a blend of Cabernet Franc (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Merlot (26%).