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Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion
2017
The distinctive second wine of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Le C combines the elegance of Pessac-Léognan with expressive Bordeaux fruit, refined tannins and a contemporary approach to winemaking. A characterful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux - Pessac-Leognan
More information
Producer
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion – A Distinctive Bordeaux Estate
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion occupies an unusual position among Bordeaux's historic wine estates. Located within the urban landscape of Pessac-Léognan, its vineyard heritage dates to 1584, when Jean de Pontac donated land to the Carmelite order.
Today, the estate is recognised for its distinctive interpretation of Left Bank Bordeaux, combining a prominent role for Cabernet Franc with innovative vinification and a commitment to expressing the character of its historic terroir.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
- Country: France
- Region: Bordeaux
- Subregion: Graves
- Appellation: Pessac-Léognan AOC
- Historical origins: 1584
- Owner: Groupe Pichet, since 2010
- Principal grape varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- Grand Vin: Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
- Second Wine: Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion
- Winery architecture: Philippe Starck and Luc Arsène-Henry
- Technical Director: Guillaume Pouthier
- Classification: Not included in the official Graves classification
History and Identity
The estate's origins are closely connected to Château Haut-Brion and the influential de Pontac family. In 1584, Jean de Pontac donated vineyard land to the Carmelite monks, whose ownership established the identity from which Les Carmes Haut-Brion takes its name.
The property subsequently passed into private ownership and remained associated with the Chantecaille family for generations.
Its acquisition by Groupe Pichet in 2010 marked a turning point, bringing substantial investment in vineyard management, winemaking facilities and the estate's international development.
The modern identity of Les Carmes Haut-Brion combines respect for this historical inheritance with a willingness to explore techniques that distinguish it from more conventional Left Bank producers.
Estate, Vineyards and Terroir
Unlike many Bordeaux estates surrounded by extensive agricultural landscapes, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion retains a historic vineyard within the urban environment of the Bordeaux metropolitan area.
Its vineyard soils include gravel, clay and sand, providing conditions suited to the cultivation of traditional Bordeaux grape varieties.
Cabernet Franc plays an especially important role in the estate's identity, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
This is a notable distinction within the Left Bank, where Cabernet Sauvignon more commonly dominates the blends of leading estates.
The proportions of individual grape varieties used in the Grand Vin vary by vintage and should not be confused with the vineyard's planted composition.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Under technical director Guillaume Pouthier, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion has developed a distinctive approach to vinification.
The estate is particularly associated with the considered use of whole-bunch fermentation, in which a proportion of grape bunches may be fermented with their stems.
Depending on the vintage and fruit characteristics, this technique can influence aromatic complexity, tannin structure and texture.
The estate also places emphasis on careful extraction and maturation designed to preserve freshness and aromatic definition.
Its contemporary winery, designed by Philippe Starck and Luc Arsène-Henry, provides a striking architectural expression of this modern philosophy.
Style and Character
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is generally associated with a combination of aromatic complexity, freshness and finely structured tannins.
Its wines can display characteristics of dark berries, red fruit, floral notes, spice and savoury complexity.
Cabernet Franc contributes significantly to the estate's distinctive aromatic identity, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot provide complementary structure and texture.
The resulting style combines concentration with elegance, offering a recognisable alternative to more conventionally Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Left Bank Bordeaux.
Individual vintages vary in their composition, structure and development potential.
Signature Wines
The estate produces two principal red wines:
- Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion: The estate's Grand Vin, representing its primary expression of the historic vineyard and winemaking philosophy.
- Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion: The estate's second wine, produced from selected vineyard parcels and offering a related but distinct expression of its Bordeaux identity.
Both wines reflect the estate's emphasis on balance, aromatic character and careful vinification.
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Country
Region
Bordeaux - Pessac-Leognan
Pessac-Léognan is an AOC/AOP wine appellation in northern Graves, immediately south and south-west of the city of Bordeaux, France. Recognised as a separate appellation in 1987, it produces both red and dry white wines across ten communes. Its gravel-dominated terroir is home to all 14 estates in the current Graves Great Growth classification, including Château Haut-Brion, which also appears in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.
Pessac-Léognan occupies the northern part of the Graves wine area. Its vineyards extend across Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Léognan, Martillac, Mérignac, Pessac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence and Villenave-d’Ornon.
The appellation’s soils combine river pebbles, fine gravel, flint, sand and limestone-rich clay. Ancient gravel deposits form gently undulating outcrops with effective natural drainage. The nearby Garonne, the city of Bordeaux and the Landes Forest also influence local growing conditions.
Red Pessac-Léognan is principally associated with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot may also contribute to the blend.
The appellation’s red wines are generally structured and complex, combining ripe fruit with firm but polished tannins. Their balance, concentration and capacity for bottle ageing vary by estate, vineyard site and vintage.
Pessac-Léognan also produces dry white Bordeaux from Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon and Muscadelle. These wines can combine citrus and white-fruit character with freshness, texture and mineral or gently toasted notes.
The exact blend and ageing approach differ between producers. Sauvignon commonly contributes freshness and aromatic definition, while Sémillon can add breadth and texture.
All 14 estates in the current Graves Great Growth classification are situated within Pessac-Léognan. Estates may be classified for their red wine, their dry white wine or both.
Château Haut-Brion has a unique position: it belongs to the Graves classification and is also a Premier Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Other recognised estates in the appellation include Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Domaine de Chevalier, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Pape Clément and Château Smith Haut Lafitte.
Compare prices for Pessac-Léognan wines across retailers on Sipfind. Explore red and dry white wines by estate, vintage, bottle size and available offer.
Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most important and widely planted red wine grapes, renowned for its powerful structure, concentrated fruit and exceptional ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, the variety has become a defining grape of fine wine regions around the world, particularly Napa Valley, Tuscany, Chile, Australia and South Africa.
Classic Cabernet Sauvignon combines flavours and aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry and dark cherry with characteristic notes of cedar, graphite, tobacco and herbs. Naturally high tannins and fresh acidity provide structure and longevity, while maturation in oak can add layers of spice, vanilla and toast. Its character varies significantly with climate, soil and winemaking, ranging from elegant and savoury to rich, powerful and intensely concentrated.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly associated with the Left Bank, where it forms the foundation of many prestigious blends alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other permitted varieties. In Napa Valley, it has become the region’s signature red grape, producing some of the world’s most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon’s ability to express terroir while retaining its distinctive structure and character has made it a global benchmark for premium red wine. Whether produced as the dominant variety in a blend or as a varietal wine, the finest examples combine concentration, complexity and the capacity to develop gracefully over decades
Merlot is one of the world’s most important red wine grapes, celebrated for its generous fruit, supple texture and ability to produce wines ranging from approachable and elegant to exceptionally complex and long-lived. Originating in Bordeaux, France, Merlot is particularly associated with the Right Bank, where it forms the foundation of many of the prestigious wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion.
Merlot typically expresses flavours and aromas of plum, black cherry, blackberry and red fruits, often developing notes of chocolate, tobacco, cedar, herbs and earthy complexity with maturation. Its naturally rounded texture and generally softer tannin profile distinguish it from Cabernet Sauvignon, although the finest examples can possess considerable structure, freshness and ageing potential.
In Pomerol, Merlot reaches some of its most celebrated expressions, particularly on the appellation’s clay-rich soils, producing wines of remarkable concentration, texture and complexity. In Saint-Émilion, it is commonly blended with Cabernet Franc and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Sauvignon, creating wines that combine ripe fruit with structure, aromatic complexity and longevity.
Beyond Bordeaux, Merlot is widely cultivated in Italy, California, Washington State, Chile and other major wine regions. It can be produced as a varietal wine or used as a central component of blends, where its fruit and texture complement more structured grape varieties.
From the great Merlot-based wines of Bordeaux’s Right Bank to leading expressions around the world, Merlot’s combination of rich fruit, refined texture and capacity to express terroir has established it as one of the defining varieties of fine red wine.
Cabernet Franc is one of France’s most historic red wine grapes, valued for its aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity and ability to express both climate and soil with remarkable clarity. It produces elegant single-varietal wines and plays an essential role in some of Bordeaux’s most distinguished blends. Earlier ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon allows Cabernet Franc to perform particularly well in cooler wine regions.
In the Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc reaches its clearest expression as a varietal wine. Typical aromas include redcurrant, raspberry, red cherry and violet, often accompanied by graphite, dried herbs, tobacco and subtle peppery notes. Naturally fresh acidity and finely structured tannins can produce approachable, fruit-driven wines as well as complex examples capable of developing for many years.
The variety is especially important in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. Chinon can range from fragrant and supple to deeply structured and age-worthy, depending on vineyard site and soil. Bourgueil often combines dark red fruit with firm structure, while Saumur-Champigny is renowned for freshness, aromatic purity and refined texture. Limestone-rich tuffeau, gravel, sand and clay all contribute to the diversity of Cabernet Franc across these Loire appellations.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc is principally associated with the Right Bank, particularly Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Usually blended with Merlot and sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon, it contributes perfume, freshness, savoury complexity and structural precision. On suitable limestone and clay terroirs, Cabernet Franc can become a dominant component of exceptionally refined and long-lived wines.
Beyond France, Cabernet Franc is cultivated in regions including Tuscany, Bolgheri, Napa Valley, Washington State, Canada, Argentina and Chile, producing styles shaped by local climate and terroir. Traditionally known as Breton in the Loire and Bouchet in parts of Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc’s combination of aromatic elegance, freshness and ageing potential establishes it as one of the world’s great red wine varieties.
History and Style
Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion – A Distinctive Expression of Pessac-Léognan
Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion is the second wine of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, one of the most individual estates in Bordeaux's Pessac-Léognan appellation. Produced from vineyard parcels distinct from those forming the historic core of the Grand Vin, Le C offers its own interpretation of the estate's winemaking philosophy.
The wine combines traditional Bordeaux grape varieties with a contemporary emphasis on aromatic precision, freshness and balanced structure. While sharing the broader identity of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Le C is not simply a reduced version of the Grand Vin. Its vineyard origins, blending decisions and maturation give it a recognisable character of its own.
Wine at a Glance
- Wine: Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion
- Producer: Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
- Country: France
- Region: Bordeaux
- Subregion: Graves
- Appellation: Pessac-Léognan AOC
- Wine Type: Red wine
- Wine Position: Second wine of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
- Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
- Terroir: Gravel, clay and sandy soils
- Winemaking: Parcel selection, controlled extraction and carefully managed maturation
- Style: Fresh, structured and fruit-driven Bordeaux blend
- Ageing Potential: Vintage-dependent, generally approachable earlier than the Grand Vin
- Bottle Size: 750 ml
Vineyard Origins and Terroir
Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion draws its identity from vineyard holdings associated with the estate beyond the historic enclosed vineyard of the Grand Vin.
These parcels are situated within Pessac-Léognan, where gravel, clay and sandy soils contribute to the development of Bordeaux's traditional red grape varieties.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc provide complementary elements to the blend. Cabernet Sauvignon contributes structure and dark-fruit character, Merlot adds texture and roundness, while Cabernet Franc can introduce freshness, floral notes and aromatic complexity.
The precise blend varies between vintages, allowing the estate to respond to the conditions of each growing season.
Winemaking and Philosophy
Le C reflects the broader winemaking philosophy established at Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion under technical director Guillaume Pouthier.
The estate's approach places considerable importance on fruit quality, careful parcel selection and preserving aromatic definition throughout vinification.
Extraction and maturation are managed according to the characteristics of the fruit and the intended style of the wine.
The objective is to create a Bordeaux blend that combines structure with freshness and expressive fruit, while maintaining an individual identity alongside the Grand Vin.
Specific fermentation methods and maturation details may vary by vintage.
Tasting Profile and Style
Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion generally offers an expressive combination of dark berries, red fruit, subtle spice and savoury nuances.
Its palate is typically characterised by supple fruit, balanced acidity and well-defined tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon provides structural depth, Merlot contributes a rounded texture, and Cabernet Franc can add aromatic lift.
Compared with the Grand Vin, Le C is generally intended to offer a more accessible expression of the estate's style, although its concentration and development potential depend on the vintage.
The wine combines the recognisable character of Pessac-Léognan with the contemporary precision associated with Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion.
Ageing Potential and Drinking Experience
Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion can be enjoyed for its youthful fruit expression, while stronger vintages may benefit from additional bottle ageing.
As the wine matures, primary fruit aromas may develop towards more savoury characteristics, including tobacco, woodland notes and gentle spice.
Its drinking window depends on vintage conditions, winemaking decisions and storage.
For enthusiasts exploring the wines of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Le C provides a distinctive introduction to the estate's approach without requiring the same extended cellaring often associated with its Grand Vin.
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