Blackberry, blackcurrant and some licorice aromas follow through to a medium body with a nice center palate and fine, focused tannins.

Drink Date
2024 - 2039

Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2020 la Tour Carnet sports a deep purple-black color and notes of crushed red and black currants, Morello cherries and fresh blackberries, plus hints of lavender, pencil lead and tobacco leaf with a touch of bay leaves. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a great intensity of crunchy black fruits with a lively backbone and fine-grained tannins, finishing with great length and a skip in its step. Nicely done!

The 2020 La Tour Carnet has a wonderful bouquet of finely honed blackberry and briar scents plus touches of crushed rock and cedar, one of the most sophisticated that I have encountered from Bernard Magrez’s Haut-Médoc at this stage. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, slightly chalky tannins, fine balance and good weight and focus on the finish. This is well worth seeking out as it is often released at a consumer-friendly price.

vinous.com

Smoke, espresso, licorice, mesquite, black and red currant aromas appear in the perfume. The palate is lush, round, ripe and rich with smoky black cherries, bitter cocoa and black plums. The finish is powerful, full and almost muscular, leaving you with a big gulp of black fruits. 91-93

Tasted by Jane Anson(at Primeur week tastings in Bordeaux, 01 May 2021)

They have done a good job of carefully working the extraction so that the tannins are abundant but not bitter, and the fruit is savoury, with layers of redcurrant and raspberry alongside some hawthorn character. Expertly handled, lovely appealing aromatics, but things finish a little abruptly. A yield of 30hl/ha. 12 months ageing. Harvest September 22 to October 2.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2040

The 2020 La Tour Carnet comes across a bit light and muted. Bernard Magrez's Haut-Médoc shows its typical earthy, savory profile, with good aromatic persistence, but less depth and structure than the best years. La Tour Carnet is often more compelling. Tasted two times.

vinous.com

(60% M, 40% CS)
Slightly raisiny ripe to smell; fullish, fresh, moderately tannic, sweet and juicy but in a firmly tannic frame for the fruit presence behind, which coarsens the wine a bit, then fairly oak extract-dry to finish. A fairly chewy style. 2025–25.

Full bottle 1,576 g and sticks out for its excess weight. Cask sample taken 6 April. A Bernard Magrez property. The vineyard mix is as follows, but no info on the blend in this vintage: 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.
Very dark crimson. Sweet, intense aromas of blackberry and cassis overlaid by oak spice. Compact, thick but smooth tannins. Only just enough freshness for balance. Lots of rich fruit and a chewy finish. Pushed a little bit too hard, it seems. (JH)