Château Carbonnieux, Rouge, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2019

Overview of the Wine
The history of Carbonnieux goes back a very long way, and records show that wine was made there at least as early as the 12th century. Benedictine monks from Sainte-Croix abbey in Bordeaux replanted and renovated the estate in the 18th century. They took advantage of the exceptionally pale, clear color of the white wine to label it as "Carbonnieux mineral water", which they then proceeded to ship to the sultan of Turkey.

Marc Perrin acquired and restored the chateau in 1956. His son, Antony, currently manages the estate. The gravelly soil at Carbonnieux is perfectly drained thanks to the Eau Blanche stream that carries away any excess water. The 85 hectares of vines are evenly divided between red and white wine varieties. The white wine is fermented and aged in barrel for 10 months. The red wine is aged for 15 to 18 months in barrel, depending on the quality and characteristics of the vintage.

Winemaker
Antony Perrin

Grape / Blend
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot

Origin
Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The wine has a deep dark ruby colour. The nose presents a voluptuous aromatic bouquet with aromas of black fruits  revealing more smoky notes of cedar and tobacco as well as more floral hints of violets. On the palate, the 2019 red is soft and savoury with finesse. The structure is elegant. The mid palate is full and continuous. The wine  progressively expresses delicate aromatic impressions on the fruits and the spices. Ageing in barrels will further refine this wine which already seems very promising. 

Serve at 18-19°C. Cellar for 6 years minimum. Pairs with all type of grilled, roast, or stewed meat, swordfish, tuna fish, mushrooms, seasonal vegetables or legumes, cheese, chocolate or red fruit dessert.

94 points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Château Carbonnieux sports a deep purple/ruby hue to go with a brilliant nose of red and black currants, spring flowers, spicy oak, and hints of tobacco. It's beautiful on the palate as well and is medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's the finest wine I've tasted from this estate. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all brought up in 40% new barrels. It’s well worth tracking down some bottles and will keep for two decades.

94 Points - James Suckling
Black fruit, dried sage, charred bark, lavender, graphite and oyster shell on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly wound tannins. Focused. Excellent tannin framing. Best yet. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Try in 2026.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Dominated by structured Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is powerful, with layers of wood-aging flavors to go with the strong tannins. Developing slowly, it is likely to be ready from 2026.

Product size: 750ml