Château Carbonnieux 2010 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

This vintage continues its upward trajectory in quality, with the 2010 showing even greater depth than the 2009. The nose is complex, showcasing power and maturity, with pronounced minerality; on the palate, it is straightforward, full-bodied, rich, highly aromatic, vigorous, and well-balanced.

About the estate:

Owned since 1956 by the charming Perrin family, this great classic of the Pessac-Léognan appellation captivates not only with its production volume—especially for whites—but also with 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 des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Intense aromas, marked by candied black fruits, spicy and smoky notes, and a lovely floral touch. Full-bodied and well-structured on the palate, with beautiful tannins and just the right concentration. A lovely, long finish for this generous, high-class wine.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Extremely smooth and early-drinking, this classic Pessac-Léognan, the 2010 Carbonnieux, offers abundant notes of tobacco leaf, roasted herbs, lavender, kirsch, and blackcurrant, with soft tannins. Seductive, sensual, and lush, this wine has a rather Burgundian character in its elegant, flavorful, and mature style. Best enjoyed over the next 15–20 years.

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

About the wine:

The 2010 vintage embodies all the qualities of a fine classic red, with crisp, elegant tannins and plenty of body.

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 a 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, a few exceptional vintages may hold magical surprises when cellared. 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