Exploring The Forgotten Side Of Bordeaux - Chapter IX

Carbonnieux is one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux, dating back to the twelfth century. The current owners, the Perrin family bought the estate in 1956.

It is the largest producer of white wine among the classified Graves, with 42 ha dedicated to white wine. That explains the amount of bottles of Carbonnieux, both old and new, that I found when I started to buy bottles for this project. And the volume seems to keep the prize down, I paid equally much for these two bottles, 27 Euro/bottle.
The blend is 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon.

1982 Chateau Carbonnieux

What a surprise! A 33 year old white Bordeaux that are brimming with life! The nose is deep, upfront, and of course a bit mature but not much (would have guessed a 1995-96 from a more prominent chateau if I was given this blind). Lovely notes of dried peached, oilcloth, dry grass, paint and matchbox. Dried up lemon curd. Very, very good. From time to time it reminds me of a fine Clos de Coulee dé Serrant on the nose.

The taste is tight, focused and mature with notes of lemon cream, oilcloth, dry herbs and dried pine apple. Complex. A very good acidity. Long and fine. Really, really good. The best Carbonnieux I have tasted, yet.

91p   (tasted 2015/08)

 

 

2004 Chateau Carbonnieux

A much darker colour than the 1982, and there is something wrong here. The nose is big and open and clearly oxidized. The taste follow the pattern with a oxidize feel with a dryness and hollowness. A badly stored bottle I guess.

Not rated   (tasted 2015/08)