Château La Tour Carnet 2023

Toasty notes and red fruits on the nose; taut palate, clearly marked tannins from barrel ageing, drying finish.

93-95. Barrel Sample. This estate, just west of Saint-Julien and centered on a medieval castle, has produced an elegantly rich wine. With an aroma that has touches of spice and flavors of dark-black fruits, it is already poised between dense tannins and open black currants.

The usual opulent style of this estate, often driven by ripe Merlots – and this blend counts no less than three-quarters of that grape – escapes me in this more subdued outing in this vintage, with an almost steely aspect to the palate. The tannins are not hard, but they are not sumptuous, either. I do like some mid-palate juiciness, with a deft expression of plum and blackberry. Furthermore, ageing will soften the the structure. Tasted three times with similar results.

The 2023 La Tour Carnet offers dark berry fruit, briar, graphite and light tea leaf scents that open in the glass, quite classical in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, touches of black pepper and quite a noticeable seaweed note lending a little complexity on the finish. Quite solid style but, again, fresh and sapid.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, brighter on the rim. Fresh cherry fruit, hints of nougat and blackberries, tangerine zest, subtle wood spice. Medium body, red fruit, discreet tannins, good freshness, already accessible, a versatile food wine.

Opulent bouquet, dark precious wood, Brazilian tobacco and elderberry juice. On the taut palate, a tight-knit tannic corset, edgy vitality and a sinewy body. In the compact finish, plum skin, liquorice and a powdery astringency, rounded off.

Grilled vanilla bean, spiced raspberry and cocoa bean, with powerful tannins, good quality. Delivers on Left Bank expectations. 36hl/ha yields. Now 300 plots across 170ha, down from over 215ha and 400 plots after soils studies and tastings. Final blend takes place at the end of ageing. Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud consultants.

Finesse is clearly the focus here, with an emphasis on red berries while achieving perfect ripeness. A common thread that can be found in many 2023s, with a recurring symbiosis between freshness and generosity. Lively and juicy on the attack, the wine is well framed by its structure and velvety tannins that provide a solid backbone, while its temperament makes you want to taste it! Only the finish struggles to fully showcase its expression, but a short stay in the cellar should help enhance the aromatic profile. I had already noted this during the en primeur tasting… So it still needs time!

A fruity wine with a pleasant palate, but fairly simple. Blend: 75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol content: 13%. Yield: 36 hl/ha.