Carmes Haut-Brion, Chateau Les
Summary
Les Carmes Haut-Brion is an 8.8-hectare Pessac-Léognan estate within urban Bordeaux, producing red wines from densely planted vineyards on Günzian gravel and clay-limestone soils, with an unusual varietal mix of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot. The estate combines traditional Bordeaux methods with modern approaches in their Philippe Starck-designed gravity-flow winery, employing whole-bunch fermentation and concrete vat vinification before aging in French oak.
Heritage & Leadership
Les Carmes Haut-Brion traces its origins to 1584, when Carmelite monks received the land as a gift from Jean de Pontac, the owner of Château Haut-Brion. The monks maintained the vineyard until the French Revolution. In 1840, Léon Colin acquired the property, marking the beginning of private ownership. The most recent transition occurred in 2010 when real estate developer Patrice Pichet purchased the estate. Under Pichet's ownership, Guillaume Pouthier joined as Technical Director in 2012, bringing experience from the Rhône Valley to Bordeaux.
Vineyards & Wines
The estate encompasses 8.8 hectares of vineyards in Pessac-Léognan, surrounded by urban Bordeaux. The vineyard sits on Günzian gravel and clay-limestone soils, with plantings of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot. This high proportion of Cabernet Franc distinguishes Les Carmes Haut-Brion from its neighbors in the appellation. The vineyard maintains a relatively high density of 10,000 vines per hectare.
Philosophy & Practice
The 2015 completion of a new gravity-flow winery, designed by Philippe Starck and Luc Arsène-Henry, marked a significant evolution in the estate's winemaking capabilities. Vinification takes place in concrete vats, with separate parcels vinified individually. The team employs whole-bunch fermentation for a portion of the harvest, a technique uncommon in Bordeaux. Temperature-controlled concrete vessels allow for precise fermentation management, while aging occurs in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. The estate produces approximately 35,000 bottles annually of its grand vin.