{"product_id":"les-carmes-haut-brion-carmes-haut-brion-2017-75-cl","title":"Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eLes Carmes Haut-Brion 2017 is a refined and characterful Pessac-Léognan that showcases one of Bordeaux’s most distinctive, Cabernet Franc–driven blends. Crafted from 41% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, it marries classical structure with a notably aromatic, almost Burgundian lift. This vintage highlights the estate’s signature elegance and its singular, almost urban terroir just on the outskirts of Bordeaux city, a rare historic enclave surrounded by walls and gardens since the 16th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2017 shows a medium to deep garnet-purple hue, vibrant yet still youthful. The nose is strikingly perfumed, opening with notes reminiscent of Black Forest cake—dark chocolate, black cherries and a touch of cream—wrapped around kirsch, black raspberries and juicy blackcurrants. Layers of cedarwood, red roses, black tea and a hint of dried mint gradually emerge, giving a complex, floral and slightly herbal lift.\n\nOn the palate, this is medium-bodied, poised and elegant rather than massive, with a beautiful sense of precision. The red and black fruits—raspberry, black cherry, blackberry—are bright and pure, carried by a lively, almost mineral freshness. Fine, grainy tannins give a refined texture, supporting the fruit without overwhelming it. The oak is well-integrated after roughly 20 months in French barrels (around 65% new), adding subtle spice and structure without masking the wine’s energy. The finish is long, perfumed and persistent, suggesting an aging potential of around 10–18 years from the vintage, drinking well now with a decant but capable of further complexity in bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe vineyards of Les Carmes Haut-Brion lie in Pessac-Léognan, just south of Bordeaux city, on a mosaic of gravel, sand and clay with iron-rich subsoils—classic terroir for Cabernet varieties, yet with an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc that defines the estate’s style. Grapes are harvested parcel by parcel at optimal maturity, often by hand, to preserve the purity of fruit and retain freshness. In 2017, the blend comprises 41% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, with around 40% whole-cluster fermentation—a bold choice in Bordeaux that enhances aromatic complexity, tension and a fine, sappy tannin profile. Fermentation and maceration are carefully managed to favor finesse over extraction, and the wine is then aged for about 20 months in French oak barrels, approximately 65% of which are new, to polish the texture and add subtle layers of spice and complexity without overwhelming the wine’s natural elegance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLes Carmes Haut-Brion 2017 is a versatile, gastronomic red that shines with refined dishes. It pairs beautifully with roast lamb, veal, duck breast, game birds, or a well-marbled ribeye, as well as with earthy plates like mushroom ragout, truffle-infused risotto or porcini-stuffed poultry. It also works well alongside aged hard cheeses (Comté, aged Gouda) or mild blue cheeses. Serve at 16–18°C (about 60–64°F) in large Bordeaux stems to let the aromatics expand. For current drinking, decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended to gently open the bouquet and soften the tannins; as it ages further in bottle, a shorter decant of around 30–45 minutes will usually be sufficient.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Les Carmes Haut-Brion is one of the most singular properties in Bordeaux, historically linked to nearby Château Haut-Brion and named after the Carmelite monks who owned the estate from the 16th century until the French Revolution. Today it is a rising star of Pessac-Léognan, known for its unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc, its walled, park-like setting within the urban fringe of Bordeaux, and its cutting-edge gravity-fed winery designed by Philippe Starck and Luc Arsène-Henry. Under dynamic modern stewardship, Les Carmes Haut-Brion has earned a reputation for producing some of the appellation’s most refined and aromatically expressive wines, frequently praised by international critics for their finesse, personality and consistent quality across challenging vintages such as 2017.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54254941471057,"sku":"PS-7730872025288","price":127.54,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/CARMES_20HAUT_20BRION_bf29d394-7d60-4e03-b587-660b5269038a.png?v=1783455428","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/les-carmes-haut-brion-carmes-haut-brion-2017-75-cl","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}