The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion, a Bordeaux Blend from the esteemed Pessac-Léognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France, has garnered significant acclaim from wine critics, earning multiple perfect scores. This vintage is a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot, featuring a notable 70% whole bunch fermentation. The wine is aged in a combination of 70% new French oak, 20% large casks, and 10% amphora, with a final alcohol content of 13.5%.
Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com praises the wine's "black, purple hue" and "opulent, restrained, elegant and powerful" presence, noting its capacity to remain "light on its feet" despite its full-bodied and dense nature. He assigns a perfect score, suggesting it may surpass the lauded 2016 vintage. Jeb Dunnuck from jebdunnuck.com also awards it a perfect score, describing it as potentially "legendary" with a "classic bouquet" and a "rare mix of purity, freshness, and power."
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate echoes these sentiments, highlighting its "complex aromas" and "pure, perfumed and penetrating" character. This review underscores the wine’s emergence as a standout in Bordeaux, marking a decade of rigorous effort by the producer, Guillaume Pouthier. James Suckling appreciates its "umami with sea urchin character," suggesting it could represent "a new model for Bordeaux."
Jane Anson emphasizes the wine’s uniqueness within its vintage, noting its "grip" and "stretching out through the palate," while Antonio Galloni from Vinous calls it a "towering masterpiece," emphasizing its "total sense of harmony." Decanter describes it as "supremely drinkable, likeable and harmonious," capturing the essence of the vintage with a "less is more approach."
Overall, the 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is celebrated for its distinctiveness, elegance, and remarkable balance, making it a standout from the Bordeaux region.