Tasting Notes for Chateau Carbonnieux 2003

Red Wines	Bordeaux Red Blends	Pessac-Leognan	France - Bordeaux

My Rating (circle) :

Date Printed: 5/25/2013

Chateau Carbonnieux 2003

(search item no. 101688)
The Wine Advocate rating: 89 points
PRICE ON 5/25/2013: $35.99

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2011 International Wine Cellar rating: 89 points
2009 Wine Enthusiast rating: 94 points
2009 The Wine Advocate rating: 92 points
2009 International Wine Cellar rating: 92 points
2009 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
2008 The Wine Advocate rating: 92 points
2008 Wine Enthusiast rating: 92 points
2008 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
2007 Wine Enthusiast rating: 89 points
2006 The Wine Advocate rating: 89 points
2006 Wine Enthusiast rating: 89 points
2006 International Wine Cellar rating: 89 points
2005 The Wine Advocate rating: 91 points
2005 Connoisseurs' Guide rating: 91 points
2005 Wine Enthusiast rating: 90 points

Winemaker's Notes:

34% Merlot – 7 % Cabernet franc – 59% Cabernet Sauvignon

Fine deep crimson color. The nose is marked by aromas of grilled spices, sap and ripe fruit. When the wine is swirled, the terroir expresses the mineral and smoky fragrances distinctive of the personality of Léognan wines.

Bold, vibrant and crisp initial taste, for this heat-wave vintage. The wine is firm, dominated by full-bodied and mellow tannins that do not mask the fruit. Fine harmony between the crispness of the fruity aromas and the tannic strength.

Food and wine pairing: Red meat and game. Our suggestion: Guinea fowl with red fruit.

My Notes:

About Chateau Carbonnieux:

The history of Carbonnieux goes back a very long way, and records show that wine was made there at least as early as the 12th century. Benedictine monks from Sainte-Croix abbey in Bordeaux replanted and renovated the estate in the 18th century. They took advantage of the exceptionally pale, clear color of the white wine to label it as "Carbonnieux mineral water", which they then proceeded to ship to the sultan of Turkey.

Marc Perrin acquired and restored the château in 1956. His son, Antony, currently manages the estate. The gravelly soil at Carbonnieux is perfectly drained thanks to the Eau Blanche stream that carries away any excess water. The 85 hectares of vines are evenly divided between red and white wine varieties. The white wine is fermented and aged in barrel for 10 months. The red wine is aged for 15 to 18 months in barrel, depending on the quality and characteristics of the vintage.