The 2016 Les Carmes Haut Brion is an exemplary Bordeaux blend from the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by Les Carmes Haut Brion, features a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is notable for its medium-bodied profile and an alcohol content of 13.5%, sealed with a traditional cork closure.
Vinous reviewer Neal Martin awards this wine a score of 96, highlighting its clean, precise, and intense bouquet with notes of blackberry, wild hedgerow, crushed stone, and iris petal. Martin describes the palate as medium-bodied with chiselled tannins and a precise finish, calling it "a brilliant Les Carmes Haut-Brion."
James Suckling, giving an excellent review with a score of 97, praises the wine's ripeness, depth, and complexity. He notes an array of bright, ripe blueberries and cassis with leafy and earthy notes. Suckling describes the palate as having a deep, long, and vibrant array of perfectly ripe dark plums and blueberries, calling it the "Best vintage this decade."
Wine Spectator also rates this wine highly with a score of 96, describing it as having "alluring waves of ganache-tinged plum sauce, blackberry reduction, and steeped açaí fruit flavors." The publication appreciates the wine's range, distinctive mouthfeel, and serious length, noting a lovely bramble echo through the finish.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gives the wine a score of 95+, describing its deep garnet-purple color and notes of kirsch, black raspberries, and black plums. Reviewer Lisa Perrotti-Brown notes the wine's firm, grainy tannins and lively palate with loads of layers and a long, well-poised finish.
Jeb Dunnuck provides a stellar review with a score of 99, calling it "one of the wines of the vintage." He highlights the wine's deep purple color and complex bouquet of high-class smoke tobacco, decaying flowers, charcoal, and gravelly minerality. Dunnuck praises its full-bodied richness, flawless integration, and blockbuster finish.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also rates the wine at 99, noting its intense and pure red fruits with a 50-second finish.
Other notable reviews include Decanter's 96 points, Jane Anson's 96 points, and The Wine Independent's 97+ points, all of which commend the wine's complexity, structure, and distinctive character.
Overall, the 2016 Les Carmes Haut Brion is a standout wine with excellent reviews, showcasing a balance of power, elegance, and complexity.