Château La Tour Carnet

Château La Tour Carnet traces its origins back to the 12th century, making it the oldest château in the Médoc. Its architecture is medieval in style, featuring a tower built in 1120 and surrounded by a moat. It has had many famous owners, including the family of Michel de Montaigne, one of France’s greatest philosophers, author of *The Essays*, and two-time mayor of Bordeaux. Château La Tour Carnet, a Grand Cru Classé, is now owned by Bernard Magrez.

The vineyards of Château La Tour Carnet were planted in 1407. The estate is characterized by soil consisting of a strongly calcareous clay subsoil covered by a thick layer of Gunzian gravel, forming the famous “La Tour Carnet hill.” At Château La Tour Carnet, yield control is paramount. Proper pruning, rigorous maintenance, and judicious thinning result in a small quantity of exceptionally concentrated grapes.

In line with this commitment to quality, Bernard Magrez has already undertaken a restoration and renovation program. The goal is not only to restore La Tour Carnet to the level of excellence it was renowned for during the heyday of its eight centuries of existence, but also to showcase one of the Médoc’s most distinctive terroirs using all the knowledge and techniques available today. This is in order to continue, in the words of the estate’s previous owner, Marie-Claire Pèlegrin, to “cut this diamond”…