Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2019 (Futures)

This is one of the most unique château in Bordeaux today.  The vineyard is situated inside the boundary of the city of Bordeaux.  It used to be part of Château Haut-Brion, until the grand château's then owner, the devout Jean de Pontac, deeded the property to the Roman Catholic Grand Carmelite Order in Bordeaux. For three centuries, it belonged to the Carmelites. The monks made a fine wine. During the French Revolution, the church was stripped of the property which was resold to new owners of the bourgeoise class. Today, only Les Carmes in the name still reminds one of its once church ownership.  (Below: Philippe Starck designed new cellar for Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion.) 

"Inky purple in colour, with peony and iris aromatics, then a whoosh of freshness that makes your mouth water before you are even halfway through. This is extremely impressive, well balanced, with fine tannins and real discretion but hidden power and depths. Clear floral character, with an austerity that makes you celebrate minerality. There are gourmet touches but the focus is rather on slate, rosemary and crushed stones with hints of chocolate shavings alongside the damson and blackberry fruit. 3.56pH, 80% in casks, 11% 20hl wood and 9% amphoras, 55% whole bunch fermentation (which brings the alcohol down to this relatively low level for the estate's location). A wine to surprise those who think Bordeaux can't deliver understatement. Tannin count of 82IPT." - Decanter Rating: 96, Drink: 2024-2044