Les Carmes Haut Brion's 2020 vintage is a Bordeaux Blend that has garnered significant acclaim from multiple professional reviewers. This wine is produced in the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France, and features a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot. It has an alcohol content of 13.5% and is sealed with a cork closure.
James Suckling awarded this wine a score of 98, describing it as having "gorgeous aromas of crushed berries with orange peel, fresh spices, and flowers." He noted its "elegance and beauty at the beginning" and commended its "intense fine tannins at the end." According to Suckling, it's a "unique wine" with a blend that includes 55% whole cluster and aging done in 80% new wood, 10% amphora, and 10% foudres.
Decanter gave this wine a perfect score of 100, highlighting its "focused and precise" nature. The review praised its "complex and characterful" profile, noting that it is "rich yet vibrant with a texture and taste that makes an impact straight away." The review further stated that the wine has "weight, density, and structure" and concluded that it is "cool, classic, sharp, and decisive with a flawless texture."
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com scored it 99, emphasizing its "medium/full-bodied, concentrated, vibrant, fresh" qualities. He identified notes of "flowers, tobacco leaves, thyme, red pit fruits, mint, and an array of spices," along with a "long, seamless, vivacious finish."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, represented by William Kelley, gave it a score of 97. Kelley highlighted the wine's aromas of "blackberries, red fruits, exotic spices, rose petals, raw cocoa, and licorice." He noted its "intensely flavored but weightless" profile and a "compelling sense of harmony."
Jeb Dunnuck also rated the wine 98, describing it as "a riveting, utterly classic Pessac-Leognan." He commended its "textbook darker currant fruits, scorched earth, tobacco, lead pencil, and smoky, truffly nuances."
Vinous, through Antonio Galloni, also awarded it a perfect score of 100. Galloni called it "a total stunner," noting that "all of its elements are so well balanced" and praising its "dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint, lavender, dried herbs, and incense."
Jane Anson rated it 97, describing it with "inky plum color, violet and peony aromatics," and highlighting its "depth, quality, and character." She noted its "sculpted blue and black fruits" and "mouthwatering oyster shell on the finish."
Finally, The Wine Independent also scored it 98, praising its "gorgeous perfume of violets, dark chocolate, black cherry preserves, and creme de cassis." The review highlighted its "firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness."
Overall, the 2020 Les Carmes Haut Brion is a highly praised Bordeaux Blend, recognized for its complexity, balance, and elegant profile.