Château Carbonnieux Blanc 2014 - Pessac-Léognan - Graves

Château Carbonnieux: The Ancestor of Graves' Great White Wines

Château Carbonnieux is one of Bordeaux's oldest estates, renowned since the 12th century for the quality of its white wines (which, according to legend, were appreciated even at the Sultan of Constantinople's palace under the name "Carbonnieux mineral water"). A Grand Cru Classé de Graves, its gravel-clay-limestone terroir from the Garonne is the perfect setting for producing dry white wines of exceptional character and longevity.

The 2014 Vintage: The Radiance of Great Dry Whites

The year 2014 proved ideal for the Left Bank's white wines. The freshness of July and August locked in the acidity and fresh fruit aromas. The superb Indian summer in September allowed the grapes to achieve phenolic ripeness without any heaviness. The result? Wines with great energy, superb aromatic crispness, and remarkable aging potential.

Technical Sheet: Vinification & Aging

• Precise blend: 78% Sauvignon Blanc (for tension and citrus) and 22% Sémillon (for richness and roundness).
• Vinification: After manual harvesting by successive selective picking and gentle pneumatic pressing under inert gas (to preserve fruit freshness), fermentation takes place in barrels.
• Aging: The wine is aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (25% new wood) with lees stirring to add volume and complexity.
• Alcohol: 13% Vol.

Tasting Profile: Freshness and Maturity

Recently tasted by our team, this Carbonnieux 2014 is beautifully expressive today. The color is a brilliant pale gold. The nose is expressive, blending chiseled notes of citrus (lime, grapefruit) and exotic fruits with more complex touches of white peach and subtly toasted hazelnut. On the palate, the attack is lively and crisp, immediately followed by the richness and volume brought by the Sémillon. The finish is long, flavorful, and mouth-watering, marked by a beautiful stony minerality.

Food and Wine Pairings

• Grilled line-caught sea bass with fennel
• Scallop risotto with lime zest
• Salmon tartare with dill
• Aged goat cheeses (Rocamadour, Crottin de Chavignol)

Serving Suggestions

• Temperature: Serve chilled but not iced, between 10 and 12°C to release its full aromatic complexity.
• Cellaring: In perfect condition, this wine is at its peak of freshness, but its structure allows it to comfortably remain in the cellar for the next 3 to 5 years.

WUAT Rating

This Château Carbonnieux Blanc 2014 is a pure wine of gastronomic pleasure. If you are looking for a great mature white Bordeaux that combines refreshing tension and beautiful textural complexity without any woody heaviness, this is the ideal bottle. A sure value certified by us.