| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Haut Médoc |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This dense purple wine displays notes of charcoal, subtle toast and white chocolate as well as blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with hints of graphite and licorice. Dense, full-bodied, unctuously textured, and quite long and thick, this concentrated, impressively endowed wine is silky-textured and already accessible. However, I suspect its best days are at least 5-7 years ahead of it. It should keep for a minimum of two decades.
One of the few classified growths in the southern end of the Medoc south of Margaux, La Tour Carnet has been owned for a number of years by Bernard Magrez. It is one of the most picturesque chateaux in Bordeaux, dating from the 12th century, with real towers and a Camelot-style moat surrounding it. A large estate, they have been making top-flight wines for well over a decade, yet the prices remain very realistic for a classified growth Bordeaux. The 2009, which boasts Michel Rolland as the consultant, was a final blend of 62% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest tiny dollops of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink: 2017 - 2037
The 2009 La Tour Carnet has an attractive blackberry, savory and peppermint scented bouquet that opens nicely with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with gritty tannin, quite masculine and sharp with a slightly bitter finish. I suspect this will improve with bottle age as it amidst a dumb phase. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.
Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish. Solid and balanced, with pretty tannins. A polished young wine.
Very dark. Very subtle and complex on the nose. Round and easy and pretty relaxed. Seems rather effortless. Lots of pleasure and nice ripeness rather than simple sweetness. Good! Date tasted 1st April 2010. Drink 2017-2028.
Bernard Magrez of Pape Clement fame has transformed the quality at this classed growth in recent years. Prices remain reasonable despite the leap in reputation. Lots of vanilla and toasty new oak on the nose. Big, thick and chewy on the palate with an impressive density of ripe, black fruit. Quite dense and structured but lots of juicy sweetness.
Although the nose is very tight there are some sweet black fruits pushing through showing themselves. The mix of bramble and black cherry is a bit held back by the tannins but there is the feel of much more to show. Drink 2018-2030.
Black red, colour sticks to the glass, concentrated blackcurrant fruit with lifted florality, quite thick texture, tannins to back it up, needs time to open up and has good potential. Drink 2015-25.
The finest wine made here since the 2005, the 2009 (a blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) was harvested between September 29 and October 22. Its dense purple color is followed by abundant aromas of camphor, charcoal, barrique, blackberries, and creme de cassis. Dense, structured, and full-bodied with high, but sweet, well-integrated tannins, and tremendous precision as well as freshness, this 2009 should evolve for 20-25 years. (Tasted three times.) Drink 2010-2035.
Robert Parker added an asterisk to this wine score to signify that it is a wine he considers has the finest potential of all the offerings he has ever tasted from this estate in nearly 32 years of barrel tasting samples in Bordeaux.
Cropped at 43hl/ha, a blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, harvested between 29th September and 22nd October, this has a ripe, plum, blueberry and cassis scented nose with good definition, if just a little obvious at the moment. Very ripe and sensuous, more like a Right Bank bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with good acidity, very fine tannins, a slight metallic edge on the entry, good density and focus here with great delineation towards the linear finish. Tightly wound, nicely controlled for the vintage. Tasted March 2010.
