Château Les Carmes Haut Brion, Pessac Léognan, 2021

Tasting Note:

These suburban vineyards (the only vineyards within the city of Bordeaux) comprised of Mindel gravels on clay and limestone are planted with 39% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot. Guillaume described 2021 as a vintage of "incredible intensity! A year requiring the skills of a tightrope walker, when nature played games with the winegrowers". There was no pumping over or pigeage this year - he described it as a "passive extraction". They continued with 45% whole bunch fermentations that reduces the alcohol content and adds a sapidity. The nose offers aromas of wild hedgerow fruit, seaweed, violets, incense and paprika. On the palate there's a ripe core of vibrant dark berries with flecks of minerals. Good lift and tension here. There is a real persistence to the fruit as well as a salty precision to the tannins. One of Bordeaux's most unique and individual wines. Produced from 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot and aged in 70% new oak barrels, 20% 18hl foudres and 10% amphorae.