The wines shown here primarily feature a well-balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Merlot, complemented by a smaller amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It showcases a deep ruby colour and a refined bouquet with notes of mixed black fruit, sweet spices, and pepper. The wines from these five reasonable(2012, 2007, 2008, for example) or excellent years(say, 2009, 2014) offer a round, solid, and harmonious taste with good complexity, a long finish, and a delicate palate, providing excellent value. All vintages have medium to medium-deep ruby-red colour and present sound, fresh acidity and balanced alcohol, although the finish is affected by sometimes astringent tannins in younger vintages, but never with these 5 vintages. Overall, they all maintain good fruit character with a silky finish, regardless of vintages. All bottles are currently available.
In the 2007 vintage, RP awarded 90 points, describing the wine as a beautiful blend of elegance and intensity. Its medium-bodied, dark plum/purple hue and floral-infused bouquet offer a unique tasting experience. The wine continues to evolve, with the scent of toffee emerging on aeration, adding complexity. The drinking window is open for 3 to 4 years, promising future enjoyment for those who appreciate a well-aged wine.
Cantemerle 2008, rightly put by RP, produces somewhat understated, restrained, but finesse-filled wines. He revised his score of 91 to 88 mainly because the continued understatedness seems unable to convey its ability to flesh out to warrant better age-worthiness. We understand and agree. However, the medium-bodied 2008 offers elegant notes of raspberries, red currants, crushed rocks and oak backed up by good concentration, sweet tannin and no hard edges. He is still holding up. Drink soon, though.
The 2009 vintage, acclaimed with 93 points by GG, is a strong contender. It boasts an intense garnet-red hue and a profound nose of ripe red fruits subtly enhanced by lightly roasted oak. The wine makes a complete, generous, and fruit-forward entry, with a delicious fruit expression supported by pronounced exuberance and a good-length finish despite a slight touch of greenness. This unique tasting experience is a must-try for any wine enthusiast.
2012 is improving. RP(NM) awarded 88, saying this is a dense, ruby/purple-coloured claret with low acidity, ripe tannin and well above average depth. Elegant, cleanly made, with purity and tantalizing floral note mixed with blueberry and black cherry, it's medium-bodied and lightly tannined. Nonetheless, JS awarded 92 points. Other MW tasters at Farr 92+ say it commands excellent, fresh blackcurrant and cherry, with complex hints of camphor and blackcurrant leaf and a touch of sweet vanilla. Significant developments have occurred in the glass for increasing complexity. The palate is compact and fresh, with bright red and black berries shining through. There are some excellent cedar and tobacco scents, with the tannins wonderfully integrated into the wine, adding just the proper savoury bite. A finely etched finish results in a moreish, well-proportioned and finely balanced Bordeaux; this 2012 is holding up well.
But if you like powerful and fleshier Cantemerle, 2014 is the way to go. Well Put by JS, this strong floral character highlights the aromas of currants and berries. It has a whole body and a firm, tight centre palate: silky tannins and a savoury, creamy-textured finish complete this beautifully balanced red. Try it now- it's already gorgeous to taste.
Despite being nine years old, this classic Margaret River Cabernet still shows purple and red-violet hues. Made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 21 months in 40% new oak, it has a modern and lively character that will surely capture your interest.
The wine displays excellent Cabernet fruit, with hints of mint and earthiness and no noticeable old tertiary tones such as leather and green liquorice. The 2015 vintage is one of the good ones, with even ripeness, offering generous fruit with plenty of purple and ripe dark fruit. The blackcurrant fruit tightens nicely on the palate with grainy oak and grippy tannins, leading to a long finish. It has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 13.5%.
It has received high and consistent scores from 94 to 95. For instance, Wine Spectator (WS) scored 95, describing the wine's flavours as warm and plump, with tannins and a palpable bristle of energy. The luscious blackberry fruit floods the palate with a crunchy acidity that keeps the wine bright and zesty. Despite spending 22 months in French oak, the barrel influence is apparent only in its textural harmony and structural completion, indicating that the wine is set for long ageing.
Christina Pickard of Wine Enthusiast (WE) awarded it 94 points, commenting that this vintage is an elegant and fruit-forward bottling with plenty of life from one of Margaret River's best-known wineries. The nose is a bouquet of red berries, backed by the regional secondary characters of eucalyptus, cigar box, olive brine, and cedar. The palate is voluptuous, with juicy fruit and spice buoyed by lifted acidity and wrapped gently in savoury, textural tannins. It is recommended to be enjoyed from now until 2030.
James Halliday also awarded it 94 points, writing that it has a good show of cedar wood, blackcurrant, mulberry, and bay leaf-like flavour. The wine is medium in weight and well-balanced overall, instilling a sense of reassurance and confidence that it will mature well into the medium term and beyond.
Vinous gave it 94 points, raving about its shimmering violet, ripe dark berries, cured tobacco, and candied flowers on the nose, plus a toasty oak nuance that builds in the glass. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, it offers intense cherry vanilla and black currant flavours accented by a peppery note. It is also concentrated but lithe, showing an impressive finishing power that will surely intrigue you.
I recently re-tasted CHATEAU LA TOUR CARNET 2015, which continues to impress. This deep ruby wine offers a delightful bouquet of fresh blueberries, cherries, and plums after being in the bottle for an hour. The palate is a harmonious blend of fresh and robust flavours, with a strong expression of Cabernet fruit on a well-structured base. The ample and fine tannins, Merlot fruit's generosity, and the length driven by excellent acidity contribute to its depth. The finish, with its impressive size, offers a delightful mix of liquorice, coffee cream, oak, and vanilla. This wine is a product and an experience built to last and improve over time.
The Tasting Team highly rates CHATEAU LA TOUR CARNET 2015, with ratings of JS93, NM 91-93, and DECANTER 90. This vintage is reasonably priced and benefits from a dynamic international distribution. It surpasses the 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011 vintages, and the stock available in Bordeaux is notably limited. However, despite these unique selling points, the 2015 vintage is not fetching a decent price according to supply and demand principles, as with its other wines.
Unfortunately, this Magrez-4th Growth-Left Bank wine is undervalued in the Hong Kong market due to aggressive importing and price slashing, leading to oversaturation and an undervalued market. This situation is disappointing for a wine of this calibre due to the current market conditions.
Despite the challenges, it's important to remember that it's not the end of the world. Prioritizing consumer choice in the market is always valuable. While we may be small wine companies, we should strive for excellence, even in challenging market conditions.
