Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a Bordeaux wine estate in the Pessac-Léognan appellation of the Graves region. Its identity is closely connected with the historic Haut-Brion property: the estate originated from land once associated with the wider Haut-Brion holding established by Jean de Pontac. According to the estate’s historical tradition, Pontac donated land containing a water mill and vineyards to the Carmelite order late in his life. The Carmelites managed the property from 1584 until the French Revolution, and their stewardship gave the estate the name Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Following the Revolution, the property was confiscated and sold at auction to Léon Colin. Ownership subsequently remained within his descendant line for generations, ultimately passing to the Chantecaille-Furt family. This long period of family ownership formed an important part of the estate’s modern identity, even though the property changed hands in the early twenty-first century. In November 2010, Didier Chantecaille-Furt and his daughter Penelope sold the estate to real-estate executive Patrice Pichet for €18 million, a transaction reported at the time as a record price for the property. The estate is relatively small by Bordeaux standards, with approximately 4.7 hectares of vines. Its planting is composed of about 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This blend gives the wines a profile based on the richness and roundness of Merlot, the aromatic and structural contribution of Cabernet Franc, and the depth and tannic framework supplied by Cabernet Sauvignon. The principal wine is the red Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, while the estate also produces the red second wine Le Clos des Carmes. Reported annual production is approximately 1,800 cases, or about 160 hectolitres, for the grand vin and approximately 200 cases, or 18 hectolitres, for Le Clos des Carmes. The estate’s small scale, historic connection to Haut-Brion and Pessac-Léognan location position it in the premium segment of Bordeaux fine wine. Its wines are sold through the international Bordeaux and fine-wine trade, although the available reference material does not establish a complete distribution network or current sales footprint. After the 2010 acquisition, Thierry Rustmann, formerly associated with Château Talbot as a co-owner, took over the running of the estate. Stéphane Derenoncourt serves as consulting oenologist. The estate remains an active wine producer focused on red wines from its Pessac-Léognan vineyard.

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion belongs to the historic group of Bordeaux estates whose origins are linked to the former Haut-Brion property of Jean de Pontac. The estate’s historical account states that Pontac donated land containing a water mill and vineyards to the Carmelite order late in his life. The Carmelites worked the property from 1584 until the French Revolution, during which time the site became known as Les Carmes Haut-Brion. The name therefore reflects the estate’s religious ownership and its historical relationship with the Haut-Brion lands. During the French Revolution, the property was confiscated and subsequently sold at auction to Léon Colin. Ownership remained in his descendant family for a long period, eventually reaching the Chantecaille-Furt family. This continuity distinguished Les Carmes Haut-Brion from estates that underwent frequent changes of ownership, and helped preserve its identity as a small, historically rooted Pessac-Léognan vineyard. The major modern transition occurred in November 2010, when Didier Chantecaille-Furt and his daughter Penelope sold the estate to Patrice Pichet for a reported €18 million. The transaction was characterized in contemporary accounts as a record price for the property. Following the sale, Thierry Rustmann, formerly a co-owner of Château Talbot, took responsibility for operating the estate. Stéphane Derenoncourt was identified as the consulting oenologist, adding outside technical expertise to the estate’s winemaking. The vineyard covers approximately 4.7 hectares. Its reported varietal composition is 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate produces a red grand vin under the Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion name and a red second wine called Le Clos des Carmes. Annual output is reported at approximately 1,800 cases, or 160 hectolitres, for the grand vin and 200 cases, or 18 hectolitres, for the second wine. The estate’s present positioning rests on three elements: its historical connection to Haut-Brion, its small Pessac-Léognan vineyard and its limited-production red wines. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of later ownership changes, architectural projects, individual vintages or current commercial performance. It does establish that the estate remains an active Bordeaux wine producer with an international fine-wine market presence.

1. 2010Sale to Patrice Pichet

   The Chantecaille-Furt family sold the estate to Patrice Pichet in November 2010 in a reported €18 million transaction.

   Source
2. 1584Carmelite stewardship begins

   The Carmelite order is reported to have begun tending the donated mill and vineyard property that later became known as Les Carmes Haut-Brion.

   Source
3. Property confiscated during the French Revolution

   The estate was confiscated during the Revolution and later sold at auction to Léon Colin.

   Source

A small, historic and premium Pessac-Léognan estate with a distinctive connection to the Haut-Brion heritage and a focused portfolio of red Bordeaux wines.

• Château Les Carmes Haut-BrionRed Pessac-Léognan wine

  The estate’s principal red wine and grand vin. It is made from grapes grown on the approximately 4.7-hectare vineyard, whose reported plantings are 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Annual production is approximately 1,800 cases, equivalent to about 160 hectolitres, according to the cited reference material.

• Le Clos des CarmesRed second wine

  The estate’s second red wine, produced alongside the Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion grand vin. Reported annual production is approximately 200 cases, or 18 hectolitres. It extends the estate’s product range while retaining the Les Carmes Haut-Brion identity.

• 2010Sale of the estate to Patrice PichetM&A

  After generations of ownership connected to the Léon Colin family line and the Chantecaille-Furt family, the estate was placed under new ownership in November 2010.

  What changed. Didier Chantecaille-Furt and his daughter Penelope sold Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion to real-estate executive Patrice Pichet for a reported €18 million.

  Aftermath. Thierry Rustmann took over management of the estate, while Stéphane Derenoncourt served as consulting oenologist. The transaction was reported as a record price for the property.

  Reported acquisition price. €18 million (November 2010)

  Source

• 2010Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is sold to Patrice Pichet

  Didier Chantecaille-Furt and his daughter Penelope sold the Pessac-Léognan estate to real-estate executive Patrice Pichet in November 2010. The reported €18 million price was described as a record for the property.

  M&ALeadership change
  Source

1. Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
2. Official Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion website