Château Carbonnieux

Pessac- Léognan Cru Classé

2018 Château Carbonnieux

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, liquorice, blackberries, blueberries, richer nose, ripe. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite toasty, dark fruits and spices, liquorice, not the most graceful Carbonnieux to date, long. 90-92

2018 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lime, lemon peel and freshly cut lemons, some vanilla and a faint peach note nose. Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, spices, anise touch, bitter note on the attack before more vanilla and citrusy finish, long. Somewhat narrower. 91-93

2017 Château Carbonnieux

APR 18 Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, spices, detailed and nuanced nose. Minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, detailed, a serious effort this year from Carbonnieux. 92-94

2017 Château Carbonnieux blanc

APR 18 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fresh, fruity, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, minerals, focused, detailed, long. 91-93

2016 Château Carbonnieux

MAY 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice, spices and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, cassis and liquorice, somewhat firmer textured and structure, narrower but classic. 92

2016 Château Carbonnieux

APR 17 Ruby. Dark berries, blueberries, spices and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, ripe, elegant, long. 91-93

2016 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, smoky, some spices nose. Fresh. Fresh acidity, apples, lime, a crisp Pessac, spices, minerals, nuanced, grapefruits finish, long. 91

2016 Château Carbonnieux blanc

APR 17 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity, some citrus and apples nose, minerals. Fresh acidity, fresh, apples, citrus, minerals, elegant, bit short. 89-91

2015 Château Carbonnieux

APR 16 Ruby. Fruity, cassis, dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, spices, minerals, long. 91-93

2015 Château Carbonnieux blanc

OCT 17 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, grapefruits, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, minerals, light smoky notes, apples, light peach note, long. 90

2015 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 17 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, peach, vanilla, gooseberries, pears, fruity nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, peach, minerals, fresher and livelier than last bottle, long. 92

2015 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 17 Pale lemon yellow. Peach, gooseberries, vanilla, fresh and fruity nose, minerals. Fresh acidity, fruity, peach and minerals, playful and long. 91

2015 Château Carbonnieux blanc

APR 16 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fresh, vanilla, grapefruits nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, lively, fruity, rounded and elegant, long. 90-92

2014 Château Carbonnieux

SEP 15 Ruby. Some scented notes, cassis, blueberries, fruity, somewhat shut. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, leaner, fairly smooth, elegant finish, long. 91

2014 Château Carbonnieux

JUN 15 Ruby. Dark fruits, minerals, fruity and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, fresh, playful and long. 91

2014 Château Carbonnieux

APR 14 Ruby. Scented, minerals, cassis, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lively, fruity, red and darker berries, long. 90-92

2014 Château Carbonnieux blanc

SEP 15 Watery lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, light lemons and grapefruits nose, somewhat shut. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lively and elegant, quite playful, leaner finish, refined, nuanced and long. 92

2014 Château Carbonnieux blanc

JUN 15 Pale lemon yellow. Minerals, citrus, apples, grapefruits nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, lively, fruity, minerals, delicate, long. 94

2014 Château Carbonnieux blanc

APR 14 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, quite inviting and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, fresh and fruity, creamy texture, loads of citrus and apples, lively, crisp and detailed, long. 93-95

2013 Château Carbonnieux

OCT 17 Ruby. Anise, some spices, light scented note nose, blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, anise, some blueberries, light herbal touch. 89

2013 Château Carbonnieux

SEP 15 Ruby. Fruity, some blueberries and cassis nose, light vanilla and some red berries notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, lively if a little bit lean, fresh finish. 88

2013 Château Carbonnieux
APR 14 Ruby. Plums, blueberries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity nose, detailed palate, long. 88-90

2013 Château Carbonnieux blanc

OCT 17 Pale lemon yellow. Grapefruits, peach, touch of honey and yellow apples nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, minerals, yellow fruits and ripe lemons, long. 90

2013 Château Carbonnieux blanc

SEP 17 Pale lemon yellow. Fresh nose, apples, grapefruits, some vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, grapefruits, vanilla, minerals, long finish. 91

2013 Château Carbonnieux blanc

SEP 15 Pale lemon yellow. Some grapefruits, lemons, some vanilla, minerals, more subdued nose, light candied lemons note. Fresh acidity, fresh, lively, fruity, quite mouthwatering, not the most intense, a little bit lean. 89

2013 Château Carbonnieux blanc
APR 14 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, light tropical note, pure nose. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh and delicate, lovely balance, long. Down to 25% new barrels. 91-93

2013 Croix de Beaucaillou blanc
FEB 16 Pale lemon yellow. Lemons, grapefruits, minerals and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, creamy, lemons finish. 88

2012 Château Carbonnieux

NOV 17 Ruby. Cassis, vanilla, spices, blueberries, faint minerals beneath, a bit on the woody side. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blueberries, fruity, spices, elegant texture, still young and somewhat raw, good length. 89

2012 Château Carbonnieux

SEP 15 Ruby. Dark fruits, some minerals, light scented note nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded, somewhat leaner finish, easy to enjoy, long. 90

2012 Château Carbonnieux

JUN 13 Deep ruby. Fruity, scented, heavier and deeper nose, ripe. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, bigger now than during primeur, long. 90

2012 Château Carbonnieux

APR 13 Deep ruby. Fruity, floral, somewhat scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and fruity palate, long. 90-92

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc
JAN 17 Pale lemon yellow. Honey, peach, vanilla, floral notes and wax nose, shut. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, wax and honey, evolved bottle. 88

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc

AUG 16 Pale lemon yellow. Starting out a bit yellow fruity but with air, minerals, flinty and citrus. Fresh acidity, minerals, leaner, some lemons, smoky, elegant but could be brighter, long. 91

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc

AUG 16 Oxidised.

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc

AUG 16 Pale lemon yellow. Some apples, minerals, pears and wax, on the oxidized side, holds on, drinkable but not optimal. 86

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAR 16 Totally ox even if almost watery yellow colour!

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc

JAN 15 Pale lemon yellow. Honey, peach, vanilla, floral notes and wax nose, shut. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, wax and honey, evolved bottle. 88

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc

SEP 15 Pale lemon yellow. Grapefruits, peaches, some minerals, light vanilla note, fruitier nose, rounded. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, apples, grapefruits, lemons, smoky minerals, detailed, long and quite intense finish. 93

2012 Château Carbonnieux blanc

JUN 13 Pale lemon yellow. Minerals, citrus and fruity notes on the nose. Fresh acidity, elegant and crisp citrus finish, long. 92-93

2012 Château Carbonnieux

APR 13 Pale lemon yellow. Lime, minerals and nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, refreshing and refined, elegant, lovely minerals, long. 91-93

2012 Croix de Carbonnieux
FEB 16 Ruby. Red berries, some spices, vanilla and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, red and darker fruits, some vanilla. 88

2012 La Croix de Carbonnieux

DEC 15 60 CS 40 M. Ruby. Cassis, some mint, light vanilla note, some minerals beneath. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, dark berries, light herbal note, again some minerals, good length. 86

2013 La Croix de Carbonnieux Blanc

DEC 15 65 SB 35 S. Pale lemon yellow. Gooseberries, light minerals nose, some grapefruits. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh, almost creamy touch, fresh. 85

2010 Château Carbonnieux
SEP 14 Ruby. Scented, cassis, violets, minerals, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, quite intense for Carbonnieux, ripe, structured, long. 91

2010 Château Carbonnieux Rouge

APR 10 Deep ruby, fruit driven nose, fresh, slightly rough texture. 87-88

2010 Château Carbonnieux

JUN 10 Ruby. Elegant and feels more refined for red Carbonnieux, seems less excessively oaked, long. 91-93

2010 Château Carbonnieux blanc

JUN 10 Pale lemon yellow. Elegant, refined, layered, beautiful texture, fresh acidity, lemons and long finish. 92-94

2010 Château Carbonnieux blanc

APR 10 Pale lemon yellow, yeast, minerals, apples, citrus, fresh, balanced, good length. 92-93

2009 Château Carbonnieux

NOV 13 Ruby. Scented, floral, dark berries, vanilla and cassis nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, nuanced, bit oaky finish. 91

2009 Château Carbonnieux

NOV 12 Deep ruby. Pessac minerals beneath cassis and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fine texture and structure, the recent (years) of less use of new oak make this wine shine ever more often on the reds as well. 90

2009 Chateau Carbonnieux

APR 10 Ruby with ruby rim, vanilla, dark berries, sweet overtones of plums. Elegant, good acidity and tannin structure, some herbal overtones and touch of minerality, very long length. 88-90

2009 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 13 Pale golden. Apples, yellow fruits and richer nose for Carbonnieux. Fresh acidity, again richer fruit and fuller body on the palate. Ripe style in this vintage, long. 90

2009 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 11 Watery yellow, minerals, citrus, apples, gooseberries, refreshing and refined nose. Fresh acidity, elegant texture, minerals and grapefruit in the very long finish. 93

2009 Chateau Carbonnieux blanc

APR 10 Straw yellow, fresh, crisp, mineral, elegantly floral, like orange blossoms. Fresh, very good acidity, beautiful balance, very long finish, mouthwatering and playful. Carbonnieux have taken the oak down, and the wines are so fresh with a gorgeous minerality, and almost Meursault like flintiness, combined with the beautiful Pessac-Léognan style of riper fruits, I just love it. 35% semillon, 65 sauvignon blanc, oak fermented, only older barrels on SB, and just 20-25% new oak barrels on semillon. 88-90

2009 La Croix de Carbonnieux blanc

NOV 12 Pale lemon yellow. Lime, minerals and tropical notes. Fresh acidity, lively, playful, lime and mineraly finish. 89

2008 Chateau Carbonnieux

APR 10 Ruby, interesting slightly spicy minerality, very elegant blackcurrant note, very closed. Fresh, tannins needs time, feels slightly rustic right now, but I really do not think it will be, long length. 87-89

2008 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAR 13 Pale lemon yellow. Lime, lemons, minerals, vanilla and elder flower. Fresh acidity, elegant body and texture, refreshing and mouthwatering if not as lively as the 07. Long. 92

2008 Chateau Carbonnieux

APR 10 Straw yellow, fresh, elegant and flinty with lemon and orange, very elegant and cool fruit. Fresh acidity, good balance, some apples, very closed now, but a beautiful, almost Burgundian mouthfeel and minerality shines through. 88

2007 Chateau Carbonnieux

APR 10 Ruby with ruby rim, a bit rustic and slightly peppery, and then transforms in the mouth! Completely different, so pleasing, elegant, ripe tannins, relaxed acidity that still does the job, very good length. Elegant. 84

2007 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 14 Premoxed, very typical for this one unfortunately, excellent wine when not.

2007 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAR 13 Pale golden. Tropical, some apricots, minerals, a lovely youthful bottle (some are premoxed). Fresh acidity, elegant body, fruity, slightly spicy, a first in this, a fruitier bottle, lovely length. 93

2007 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 12 Golden, honey, citrus, fat, rich, but more focused than last bottle, some asparagus. Fresh acidity, creamy texture, elegant, some wax, long. 92

2007 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAR 12 Pale lemon yellow. Young, grapefruit, lime, minerals, touch smoky, melon and peach. Fresh acidity, fruit driven, creamy texture and finish. 91

2007 Chateau Carbonnieux blanc

APR 10 Straw yellow, elegant, flinty minerality, fresh, some sauvignon blanc gooseberries, hints of tropical overtones from the semillon, a perfect match, very fresh and lively. Great balance, delicate, incredibly subtle richness, so transparent, layer upon layer and so complex. Fantastic length. 93

2006 Château Carbonnieux blanc

NOV 10 Pale lemon yellow, smokey honey and apples, with a heavy stone minerality and some wax. Very elegant acidity, some tropical overtones, but it's all about the immense minerality, fantastic! 92

2005 Château Carbonnieux blanc

MAY 14 Pale golden. Rich honey and minerals nose, some nuts. Yellow plums and wax. Fresh acidity, fruity, rich but livelier palate, creamy palate, fruity, long. 91

2005 Chateau Carbonnieux blanc

MAR 10 Pale golden colour, closed first, then some tropical fruits before a truly marvelous minerality comes beneath. Fresh acidity that play perfectly with the minerality, very elegant, some smokey, flinty notes, citrus, orange peel, and apricots, very long mineraly finish. Beautiful now, but will keep. 91

2005 Château Carbonnieux blanc

FEB 08 Pale lemon yellow. Aromatic, fruity, peach and grapefruits nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, fruity, lovely balance, refreshing if a bit overly woody. 89

2003 Château Carbonnieux

DEC 10 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries, light minerals note and a touch jammy. Medium acidity, ripe tannins, smooth and rounded, good length. 89

2003 Chateau Carbonnieux

DEC 09 Deep ruby, ripe fruit, cassis, some cigars and chocolate, mineral hints in the back. Lacy acidity, ripe and mature tannins, ok finish, drink in 2-3 years. 85

2001 Château Carbonnieux blanc

JUN 08 Pale lemon yellow. Fruity, lemons, citrus, apples, minerals, smoky nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, fruity, ripe, lemons, quite a bit of wood, long. 90

1998 Château Carbonnieux

AUG 08 Ruby. Cassis, minerals, lots of vanilla and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, vanilla, bit wood bitter finish, good length. 87

1997 Château Carbonnieux

SEP 15 Ruby, garnet rim. Some cassis, figs and blueberries nose, lighter nose, faintly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter palate, ready now, somewhat leaner but fairly elegant. 87

1995 Château Carbonnieux 

JUN 19 Ruby, garnet rim. Some herbs, red fruits, spices, some red fruits and liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, red fruity, anise, some darker fruits, spices, herbal, good length. 89

1995 Château Carbonnieux

MAR 09 Ruby, thin brick rim. Cassis, plums, figs, some spices, anise, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant texture, cassis, figs, bit sweet and sour in the finish, good length. 89

1986 Château Carbonnieux blanc

APR 16 Golden. Apples, peach, minerals and almonds nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded structure and texture, lively, minerals and almost smoky finish with dried fruits and peach, long. 93

1978 Château Carbonnieux

NOV 12 In the neck fill. Bright ruby with broad brick rim. Leather, figs, licorice and minerals. Almost minty and fully mature. Fresh acidity, ripe and few tannins, surprisingly lively and full bodied for the vintage and has the typical playfulness of the vintage. Leaner and acidity sharper finish, very cherry stone.  Must be a perfect bottle. 89

1970 Château Carbonnieux

MAY 09 Brick with narrow ruby core. Dates, figs, earthy nose, bit scented, quite minerals. Fresh acidity, some tannins, dried fruits, leaner, bit sweet and sour, leaner finish. 87

1967 Château Carbonnieux

APR 17 Magnum. Earthy nose, figs, dates some coffee beans notes nose. Fresh acidity, few tannins, light figy palate, bit earthy, leaner, good length, very mature. 86

1966 Château Carbonnieux

APR 16 Magnum Garnet with brick rim. Scented, minerals, figs and prunes nose, mature and still vivid. Fresh acidity, few tannins, leaner palate, cherries, somewhat sweet and sour, sous bois, bit dry and edgy finish even if smooth palate. 89

1959 Château Carbonnieux

APR 19 Ruby, garnet rim. Anise, figs, minerals, leather, layered and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, minerals, figs and dates, playful, superb balance, a beauty! 94