I really stumbled on this little find: Three bottles of 1999 Les Carmes Haut Brion for $29.99 each.
Taking a flyer was easy.
This wine delivers in boat-loads. Fully mature but could easily go longer. Great typicity with an alluring, soft Bordeaux perfume, musky, hint of game and wet leather. All red fruits, medium body, smoky, charcoal and dry earth. Ever so slight hint of citrus. A really elegant, appealing, accessible Bordeaux that does not try to be anything more than what it is. Extremely well balanced. (91 pts.).
At some point, Rolland was brought in to this chateau, I’m pretty sure, and around the same time this became a Parker darling. I wonder if the 99 was before this happened?
As good as it is today – it was even better 5 years earlier. I know it because I owned a case and have 2 bottles left. It has not lost the complexity but some richness. But I agree – still a fine wine.
I know Derenoncourt now consultants with this estate, but am not aware of Rolland consulting before that. Did some googling, but could not come up with anything. Now curious. I did not detect his heavy hand in this wine. If he consulted for the 1999, then kudos to him!
Cheers on the find RA. I think we’re coming around the bend on a lot of 2005 “petit” BDX, and of course vintages like 96, 98, 99, 00, 01 and soon 04,08 are in the wings as well.
The more other regions I focus on, the more I marvel at how Bordeaux almost singularly ages with grace across such a wide spectrum of quality.
Oops, I was thinking of Larrivet-Haut-Brion, that’s where Rolland consults. I own a bottle or two of the 2005 Carmes Haut Brion, and now I’m (more) glad that I do!
That’s what I get for posting before my morning coffee.
Nice to hear it’s still doing well. And that’s a great price. I paid $28 in 2001. The three bottles I had between 03 and 09 all showed nicely, though none was spectacular.
I visited there in June 2001 and the owner met us at the front gate with a napsack over his shoulder. The cellar was simple and not that clean. It was refreshing to see a Bordeaux property that wasn’t all spit and polish, and the wines seemed quite honest. I think the production is quite small, so you don’t see them often in the US.
It was originally a Carmelite property – hence the name – and then it was seized and turned into a park after the revolution.
