Château Carbonnieux, Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2018

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.

Grape / Blend
65% Sauvignon, 35% Semillon

Origin
Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The wine is pale yellow with a slightly green tint. Coming from a vintage that could be called solar after the beginning of ripening, this wine has a fresh aromatic nose combining the characteristics of the two grape varieties (grapefruit and apricot). On the palate the attack is round and the expected acidity was able to be maintained thanks to the clay-limestone soil facing north. In mouth, the wine is long and with ageing the unctuous Semillon will continue to fill the mid-palate. This wine is very well-balanced.

#13 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2021
94 points - Wine Spectator
A brisk lemon pith note flanks a core of lemon curd, honeysuckle, tarragon, oyster shell and salted butter notes, with a hint of warm, herbed focaccia on the finish adding range and contrast. Delicious. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2026.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Carbonnieux 2018 Blanc features intense lime juice, yuzu and green mango scents with touches of lemon curd and white pepper. Medium-bodied, very tightly wound and zesty in the mouth, it has a racy backbone and a mineral-laced finish.

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The top white, the 2018 Château Carbonnieux Blanc is largely Sauvignon with around one-quarter Sémillon. Lots of ripe lemon, leafy herb, rocky mineral, and a hint of white grapefruit emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, with bright yet integrated acidity and a great finish. It's an outstanding, complex, interesting white that should have 4-6 years of prime drinking, probably longer.

92 Points - James Suckling
Whole lemon, green mango and bell pepper on the nose with a hint of chalk. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a creamy, honeyed texture. Drink or hold.

92 Points - Decanter 
Lovely juice, and a sense of freshness and uplift, with white flowers and pink grapefruit alongside other citrus. This is delicate; a little soft on the finish but a fresh wine in a warm year.

Product size: 750ml