Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2017 – Pessac-Léognan

(41% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 44% whole bunches) The nose is fruity, elegant, beautifully fine (in its complexity) and offers a beautiful aromatic palette, a very beautiful finesse of the grain as well as a beautiful finesse in its pulpy / fleshy side. It reveals notes of blackberry, ripe cassis and small notes of fleshy strawberry combined with fine touches of warm gravels (terroir / graves), Cuben pepper, cornflowers as well as slight hints of plum, cocoa, nutmeg, discreet hints of graphite, toasted / chocolate and a subtle hint of blond tobacco (in the background). The palate is mineral, beautifully fresh, well-balanced and offers a beautiful definition, a beautiful verticality, finesse / delicacy, dynamism, a beautiful juiciness, an acidulous frame, deepness, silkiness, a very fine grain, an enveloping side, a beautiful tension, generosity / richness (in its delicacy) as well as an aerial side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy / acidulous cassis, juicy / acidulous blackberry and small notes of red berries associated with fine touches of crunchy / juicy raspberry, crunchy / juicy plum, toasted hints, graphite, sweet blond tobacco as well as discreet hints of iris / cornflower, a very discreet hint of bitterness (good bitterness) and an imperceptible hint of gray pepper. Tannins are elegant, very fine and “rounded”. There are very discreet hints of caramelization on the finish. Fine salinity in the background. Beautiful finesse, length and persistence.