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Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion isn’t just another fancy Bordeaux—it’s one of the most unique, history-rich estates in the region. Back in 1584, the owner of Château Haut-Brion gifted the land to Carmelite monks, who quietly made wine there for nearly 300 years. Fast-forward past a revolution or two, and today it’s one of the hottest names in Bordeaux—thanks to a major glow-up in 2010, with a Starck-designed winery and a team obsessed with quality.

Speaking of which, the 2021 vintage? A showstopper. Antonio Galloni called this winery's first wine “very possibly the wine of the vintage.” And it’s easy to see why.

The 2021 vintage wasn’t easy—cool, rainy, unpredictable—but Les Carmes pulled off something special: a wine of clarity, freshness, and precision. It may not be a blockbuster, but it’s a masterpiece of restraint.

And the kicker? This is Château Les Carmes de Haut-Brion's superb second wine—and a lot easier on the wallet. Same neighborhood, same pedigree, a whole lot more wine for your money.

62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot —is all elegance and energy. It opens with bright red fruit, violets, and a whiff of graphite, then glides across the palate with finesse. The Cabernet Franc brings spice and lift, the Merlot adds plushness, and the whole thing is wrapped in a ribbon of minerality.

Fresh and racy, with beautiful cherries, dried orange peels, peppercorn and spices. It’s so vibrant and agile on the palate, with medium body and crunchy, lively tannins. Juicy and tense. Firm but very fine and silky in the end. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot and 2% petit verdot. Already attractive, but better after a year or two. ~94 James Suckling

The 2021 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion contains 22% whole-bunch (to be exact). It has a lovely bouquet with peony and light white flower scents percolating through the black fruit. This is fresh and cohesive. The palate is medium-bodied with a very saline entry, showing black olive mixed with blackberry and bilberry fruit. Finely structured toward the finish, this is an absolutely delicious Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion that will get even better with bottle age. ~92+ Vinous Media

The 2021 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion, a blend driven by Cabernet Sauvignon, possesses a charming, gourmand bouquet with aromas of rose, cherries, violet, blueberry and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, juicy and supple palate with a lively mid-palate and a delicate core of fruit that segues into a long, penetrating and mouthwatering finish. ~92 Wine Advocate

A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion 2021 has spent two years in barrel and one year in concrete vat. Hence this is a vat sample that hasn't been bottled yet. It has a deep garnet-purple color and it storms out of the glass with powerful notes of cassis, black cherries, and tar, followed by hints of crushed rocks, bay leaves, and pencil lead. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright, lively, and impactful, featuring firm, fine-grained tannins and loads of red and black berry sparks, finishing minerally. It should age very gracefully! ~92 The Wine Palate

Dark ruby, purple hues on the narrow rim. Delicate smokiness, subtle herbal savouriness, then hints of blackberries and cassis, candied orange zest. Juicy, dark berry fruit, vivid tannins, salty and persistent with a savoury edge, fine sweetness on the finish; a multi-faceted food companion. ~92 Falstaff

Gentle extraction, smoked earth and coffe bean, with grippy salinity and juice. Touch of reduction right now but it opens to show great drinkability, capturing the parts of 2021 that make for an enjoyable, approachable and nuanced wine, with savoury blueberry and redcurrant fruits, and a wave of sage spice. Harvest September 30 to October 14, 3.55ph. 20% new oak, 8% amphoras, 20% whole grape. Ageing in 30hl oak vats, plus amphora for 24 months then 6 months in a concrete vats. First release coming in December 2024. ~92 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

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