Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a Bordeaux wine estate located in the AOC Pessac-Léognan within the region of Graves.

Château les Carmes Haut-Brion
Location20 rue des Carmes, Bordeaux, France
AppellationPessac-Léognan
Key peopleJean de Pontac, Léon Colin, Patrice Pichet
Acres cultivated86
Cases/yr30000 bottles
Known forChâteau les Carmes Haut-Brion, Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion
Varietalscabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot
Websiteles-carmes-haut-brion.com

In addition to producing a red grand vin named Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, the estate produces the red second wine Le Clos des Carmes.

History

edit

The property shares its origins with châteaux Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut-Brion, Laville Haut-Brion and La Tour Haut-Brion, in once being part of the Haut-Brion estate that belonged to Jean de Pontac. Reportedly at age 101, De Pontac donated land holding a water mill and vineyards to the Carmelite order, who tended the property from 1584 until the French Revolution.[1][2] During this period the estate took the name Les Carmes Haut-Brion.

After the Revolution, it was confiscated and sold at auction to Léon Colin, whose descendant lineage maintained ownership of the estate into the 21st century with the Chantecaille-Furt family.[1][2] In November 2010, Didier Chantecaille-Furt and his daughter Penelope sold Les Carmes Haut-Brion to real estate executive Patrice Pichet for 18m, reported to be a "record price".[3][4][5][6]

The estate employs Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant oenologist. Thierry Rustmann, former co-owner of Château Talbot, took over the running of the estate following the sale.[6]

Production

edit

The estate has 4.7 hectares (12 acres) under vine, with a grape variety distribution of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The annual production of the red grand vin Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion is approximately 1,800 cases (160 hL), and of the second wine Le Clos des Carmes there is a production of 200 cases (18 hL).

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Penning-Rowsell, Edmund (1969). The Wines of Bordeaux. The International Wine and Food Publishing Company. p. 320. ISBN 0-14-046866-8.
  2. ^ a b Kissack, Chris, thewinedoctor.com Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion
  3. ^ Anson, Jane, Decanter.com (January 13, 2011). Chateau Carmes Haut-Brion sold for record sum
  4. ^ Compadre, César, Sud Ouest (January 13, 2011). Vente record à Bordeaux
  5. ^ Anson, Jane, newbordeaux.blog.co.uk (January 14, 2011). New owners at Carmes Haut-Brion Archived 2011-01-18 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b Mustacich, Suzanne, Wine Spectator (January 19, 2011). French Real-Estate Titan Buys Haut-Brion’s Neighbor