Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (Bordeaux, France) 2016 ($173, Radford Dale)

If you are on the hunt for the next Bordeaux superstar, look no further than Les Carmes Haut-Brion. This is not your typical, stodgy Bordeaux. The estate embraces innovative techniques like whole-cluster fermentation, amphorae aging, and special attention to acid levels during harvest. The 2016 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, merging traditional Bordeaux elements with subtle influences from the Rhône, Jura, and even Burgundy. The result is a wine that competes with those that have a comma in their price tag. Full-bodied yet graceful, the wine showcases a flawless balance of acidity, beautifully integrated tannins and rich fruit notes of kirsch, black raspberries and black plums with touches of cassis and pencil shavings. This demands a little time in the decanter before serving to fully reveal its depth and character.
97 Miranda Franco