Château Carbonnieux 2010 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Very expressive aromas, pure fruit, minerality, exotic, citrus, and smoky notes; full-bodied, rich, voluminous, aromatic, and lively on the palate: rich, very well-balanced, and elegant.

About the estate:

Owned since 1956 by the charming Perrin family, this great classic of the Pessac-Léognan appellation captivates with both its production volume—especially for white wines—and the consistency and distinctiveness of its style. The very pale whites are fresh, lively, and exceptionally refined, but since 2009 they have gained in richness and body. The reds have gained significantly in power and density and rival the very best.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Carbonnieux mineral water—the name under which the estate’s white wine was sold to an Ottoman sultan in the 18th century—was highly sought after at the time. Today, this estate continues to produce consistently excellent wines, and its 2010 vintage captivated the judges throughout the tasting. With beautiful complexity and notes of white peach, mango, and oak, the bouquet heralds a full-bodied, well-structured, and long finish, where the aromas of Sauvignon Blanc (two-thirds of the blend) blend with the richness of Sémillon. Already very pleasant, this wine will reach its peak—and earn its second star—in a few years.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

A magnificent mineral finesse that the velvety fruit gently embraces. A wine that balances sensuality and tension, firmness and smoothness, with a base of subtly candied fruit that retains plenty of freshness.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

Brothers Éric and Philibert Perrin, along with their sister Christine Lescuyer, continue to develop this important estate, which has evolved considerably over the past decade, consistently producing delicious wine. The new generation is taking over; the 2019 vintage was brilliantly vinified by the young Andréa Perrin. Elegant and refreshing, the whites have gained in expressiveness while developing more body on the palate. They do not age indefinitely, and we recommend enjoying them within the first five years after bottling. However, some great vintages may hold magical surprises with extended aging. The reds, serious and consistent, though often austere in their youth, have also gained in body density. They never taste as good as they do between five and ten years of age. The vineyard is continuing its restructuring program by replacing the Sauvignon Blancs on the fine gravel terroirs with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Spectator

James Suckling