Château Penin - Bordeaux Clairet 2024

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Patrick Carteyron is one of the leading figures in the vast Bordeaux appellation. He has made his Château Penin a benchmark across various appellations, wine types, and vintages. The family-run estate has grown from 13 hectares in 1854 to 40 hectares today. The red wines—and especially the fine cuvées, Les Cailloux and Grande Sélection—are produced on a stony Quaternary terroir, the estate’s most prestigious. The more common sandy and clay soils are reserved for the production of delicious rosés and clairets. Year after year, the clairet remains “the” benchmark of this appellation. Here you’ll find a wide range of wines at every price point, all focused on fruit, quality tannins, and freshness—including charming, generous whites and rosés, and the famous clairet, as mentioned, with its consistently vibrant fruit, which has built the estate’s reputation. The reds are richly fruity and pleasing, notably the ever-vibrant Grande-Sélection cuvée.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

One of the appellation’s flagship wines. Consistently excellent regardless of the vintage, this clairet is a crowd-pleaser, and once again, its pure fruit, breadth, and length shine through; with a strong Merlot component (90%), this rosé is built around very fresh fruit—cherry and tart red berries—and a structure that is at once full-bodied, rich, and delicate. A complete success, perfect for any season, pairing well with cured meats, ratatouille, or grilled pork chops. 2024–2026

About the estate:

One of the most reliable names among regional appellations, with several “ Favorites ” awards to its credit. A 50-hectare vineyard situated on gravelly soil on the left bank of the Dordogne, across from Saint-Émilion. Founded by the Carteyron family in 1855, it has been managed since 1982 by Patrick, an oenologist.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Rated HVE3, this wine is one of the finest examples of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur. Penin is refining its lineup by focusing on limestone and gravel soils, while retaining the finesse of a fruit profile that appeals to a wide audience. Under the “Natur’” label, the estate produces a rosé, a clairet, and a red, slightly challenging the conventions of classic Bordeaux.

Wine Enthusiast