EN PRIMEUR Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan 2025 OWC

Jean-Marc Quarin

Deep black color. A profound nose revealing black fruits, red fruits (raspberry), and smoky notes. Broad on the attack, immediately full-bodied and powerful, with a majestic progression. This silky and noble wine unfolds gently and slowly, displaying great opulence before relaxing into a more airy finish, while retaining its structure. Remarkable for its balance, uniqueness, and complexity.

It concludes with an outstanding tannic texture and an extraordinary, lingering length that leaves one speechless. Wow! Magnificent!

Tasted twice since blending.

It will last for a hundred years.

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Ripe dark berry fruit, a hint of plums, floral touch, pleasant herbal spice, some nougat and orange zest. Complex, yet lively, ripe cherries and cranberries, fine, ripe tannins, literally opens up in the mouth, delicate extract sweetness, lingers for minutes, already very convincing in its youth, cassis and ripe cherries on the finish, delicate and multi-faceted, great future potential.

James Suckling

The precision is so seductive and intellectual, with aromas of fresh flowers, iron, graphite, cedar, blood oranges and black fruit. It's medium-bodied with a compact palate of intense tannins that melt into the wine. Rather weightless in nature. It kicks in at the end with incredible intensity and focus. 13% alcohol. 65% whole cluster. 54% cabernet franc, 29% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot, mostly co-fermented.

Vinum

(54% CF, 29% CS, 17% Merlot, 65% whole bunch, 80% new oak, 3.59 pH) Dark, almost black in the core; on the nose, a textbook Cabernet aroma, radiant, fresh, finely spicy and Burgundian in character, fascinatingly floral, with violet blossoms, plus exotic spices; on the palate focused, taut on the attack, spreading out, filling the mouth without being heavy, the wine already makes it hard to spit as a barrel sample, immensely juicy, full of energy, race and zest for life, a delicate hint of bitterness, in addition to excellent acidity, provides a freshness that is unparalleled; with an excellent length on the finish. A highly complex Les Carmes Haut-Brion that will be accessible early and yet is built for a small eternity. (Drink from 2030 to 2070)

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Almost opaque in color, it takes no effort to dig into the floral display. From there you encounter black cherries, licorice, spice box, menthol, cigar wrappers, blackberries and crushed rocks in the aromas. The palate is what steals the show with its vivid display of black, with red fruits, elegant, silky textures, and most importantly, purity of fruit. The velvety finish spreads all over your palate with touches of sea-salt, cocoa, Indian spices and lingering, dark fruits. Clearly, this is in competition with the best vintages the estate has ever produced. The ability to manage the potential of hydric stress, due to their terroir is a large part of what helped make 2025 such a success. The wine was made using 65% whole bunch clusters, blending 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Merlot. It is interesting to note this is the highest percentage of Cabernet ever included in the blend. I think it really works here. 13% ABV, pH 3.59. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 19% foudres, and 11% amphora. Picking took place September 7- September 19. Drink from 2029-2065.