An outstanding wine from the 2011 vintage, with blueberry and chocolate character. It’s full-bodied, with velvety tannins and an intense finish. Shows powerful structure. Extremely well done from here for the vintage; shows the hand of the new owner. Better in 2016.

Very different in style from the 2010, this has less breadth through the palate, touches of rose stems and angular tannins, really a signature of Carmes Haut-Brion in these earlier years. Smoked earth and tobacco alongside blueberry and raspberry fruits. This has finesse and grace, and can be drunk now with a carafe. 3.59ph. First year with the new owner Patrice Pichet.

The 2011 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is another gem in this vintage that's drinking nicely today. Coming from a vineyard near Haut-Brion, it has surprising ripeness in its red and black currants, sandalwood, spice, and scorched earth-like aromatics. Beautiful on the palate as well, it builds nicely with time in the glass, has medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It will hold for another 10-15 years and have a gradual decline after that.

This tiny jewel of a property, situated close to La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, has turned out one of the stars of the 2011 vintage. A deep dark ruby/purple color is followed by hints of graphite, charcoal, creme de cassis and Christmas fruitcake. This medium-bodied Pessac-Leognan is gorgeously concentrated with impeccably well-integrated acidity, tannin, alcohol and oak. An authoritatively long finish adds to the class and nobility of this wine. Drink it over the next 15 years. - Robert Parker

The 2011 Les Carmes Haut-Brion, which has a slightly lower pH than the 2010, was aged for 12 to 14 months in barrel (60% new). There is a mixture of red and black fruit on the nose, nicely detailed though not complex. Hints of liquorice emerge with time and become more "plummy" in the glass, sloes perhaps? The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. A little austere coming straight after the 2010. Correct and linear, the finish is smudged at first but meliorates in the glass and ends up more pleasurable than the 2010. Don't be afraid to decant this. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. -- Neal Martin