Winemaker Notes
A first sorting of the fruit is done in the vines followed by a manual sorting on a vibrating sorting table. High-frequency de-stemming using a Pellenc de-stemmer, then densimetric berry sorting. The berries are cooled using a cryogenic tunnel (injecting a liquid nitrogen spray). Transfer to vats by gravity-flow using a mobile bin. Vinification in small-sized oak and concrete vats. Pre-fermentation cold soak (8°C). Completely manual pigeages. Low temperature alcoholic fermentations (28°C).
Blend: 59% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 La Tour Carnet is a potent, brooding wine. A rush of dark red fruit, iron, white pepper, leather and licorice stains the palate. This driving, persistent Haut-Médoc has a lot to recommend it. The 2022 is complex and wonderfully dynamic in the glass, qualities that will allow it to age gracefully for many years to come.
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Decanter
Ripe and full on the palate, dense but lively black fruit fills the mouth with softly chewy tannins giving some power as well as definition. Quite a serious wine but has the right balance between too much and too little. Dense and tannic no doubt but has life and style. 3.65pH. Ageing in 20% french new oak barrels. Harvest September 8 - September 22.Rolland & Associés consultants.
Barrel Sample: 92 -
James Suckling
Ripe cherries, plums, tapenade, dried flowers and a touch of baked berries on the nose. This is ripe but still juicy and tightly wound, with dusty tannins that coalesce at the end.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Black cherries, smoky tobacco, and spicy oak notes all emerge from the 2022 Château La Tour Carnet, a rocking little Haut-Médoc that has medium to full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and outstanding length.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
While it claims the same basic landscape as the Medoc—only every so slightly elevated above river level—the Haut Medoc is home to all of the magnificent chateaux of the Left Bank of Bordeaux, creating no lack of beautiful sites to see.
These chateaux, residing over the classed-growth cru in the villages of Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe are within the Haut Medoc appellation. Though within the confines of these villages, any classed-growth chateaux will most certainly claim village or cru status on their wine labels.
Interestingly, some classed-growth cru of the Haut Medoc fall outside of these more famous villages and can certainly be a source of some of the best values in Bordeaux. Deep in color, and concentrated in ripe fruit and tannins, these wines (typically Cabernet Sauvignon-based) often prove the same aging potential of the village classed-growths. Among these, the highest ranked chateaux are Chateau La Lagune and Chateau Cantemerle.