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CHATEAU CARBONNIEUX
Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

95 points - Wine Enthusiast
94 points - Jeb Dunnuck
93 points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Château Carbonnieux red wine, a Grand Cru Classé, has for centuries been a great classic from the Pessac-Leognan region of Bordeaux and is from one of the oldest vineyards in the region.

The Château Carbonnieux, a Bordeauxred blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, displays a deep ruby color with violet reflections. It reveals aromas of black fruits such as blueberries and blackberries. After aeration, floral aromas of hyacinth and roses, along with spicy notes of licorice, become perceptible. On the palate, the attack is soft, with tannins that build to give a round and balanced structure. The mid-palate is lively, combining texture and freshness, with notes of nutmeg and red fruits. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc.

A deed of exchange dated April 2, 1292, between two monks of the powerful abbaye de Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux, bears witness to the mediaeval origins of the Château Carbonnieux estate. At the time, an enclave was cleared by the Carbonius family to create the vineyard. Château Carbonnieux was classified as a Grand Cru de Graves for the first time in 1953, for its red and white wines. The final classification of 1959 confirmed this ranking. In the meantime, the Perrin family had taken over the estate. Originally from Burgundy, the family founded a large winery in Algeria in the nineteenth century before choosing to settle in Bordeaux.