Château Carbonnieux: One of the Oldest in Pessac Léognan!

Château Carbonnieux, located in the Pessac Léognan appellation in the Bordeaux region, is one of the oldest in the region. Founded in the 13th century by the Benedictines of the Saint Croix Abbey, it was purchased in 1956 by the Perrin family, who elevated it to the rank of Grands Crus Classés de Graves in 1959.

The château is located on a significant gravel ridge with very diverse terroirs. The grape variety selection for the 92 hectares of land was chosen in accordance with the different soil properties. 50 hectares are dedicated to red wines: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and finally 3% devoted to Petit Verdot and Carménère.
Regarding the 42 hectares of white wines, Sauvignon is strongly dominant as it represents 65% of the grape varieties. It will provide aromatic qualities and acidity to the wine. The remaining 35% are reserved for Semillon, which will bring body to the blend.
Finally, the average age of the vines is approximately 30 years for both whites and reds.

During the harvest, which is done in the greatest Bordeaux tradition, very special care is given to grape selection and efforts are made to minimize handling to avoid damaging the grapes. Barrel aging is approximately 10 months for white wines and 18 months for red wines.
It should be noted that Château Carbonnieux is very often the first to begin its harvest (at least for white grape varieties). The château's production represents approximately 260,000 bottles of white wine and 300,000 bottles of red wine per year. These figures also include the château's second wines: Château Tour Léognan and La Croix Carbonnieux.

According to Revue des Vins de France, Château Carbonnieux white wines are fresh with strong aromatic qualities centered around fruit. Increasingly precise, these wines benefit from very light barrel aging and it is recommended to taste them within the first five years of their life. The reds, on the other hand, are more structured, sometimes austere in their youth; they have also gained in body density and are perfectly enjoyed between five and ten years of age.

– Great vintage: 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

– Good vintage: 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008

– Lesser vintage: 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002