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Château Carbonnieux Winery Guide

Winery Overview

History and architecture lovers rejoice – the beautiful winemaking property of Château Carbonnieux dates back to the 12th century, with medieval traces and remnants seamlessly incorporated into the 17th century Château. It is a stunning introduction to the properties of the Pessac – Leognan region in Bordeaux. Merely a stone’s throw away from the city of Bordeaux, the wider Graves region has always been less famous than its cousin, the Medoc but is equally capable of making stunning wines. Pessac has delightful wine châteaux, ancient history, and welcoming owners.

Vines were first planted at Carbonnieux by Benedictine monks in the 18th century. The monks were still running the show when the American president Thomas Jefferson visited here during his grand tour of the Bordeaux vineyards in 1787. Sadly, they were another casualty of the French Revolution and were evicted once it broke out. Like many others in the region, the property would experience many years of misfortune, as vine disease, the depression, and the Second World War contributed to its neglect. Thankfully the modern era of Carbonnieux saw a renaissance for the estate when Marc Perrin brought the property. The vineyards were in dire shape after that year’s frost, and the Château had been empty for half a century. Today it is run by his ever-affable son Anthony and his two sons Eric and Philibert.

Anthony has restored the Château and its wines’ reputation, particularly their white wines, with great passion and pride while pursuing his mantra of reasonably priced wine for all. Their wines may not share Haut-Brion or Margaux’s status but are consistent, reasonably priced, and highly reliable. Stylish and accessible, the reds and the whites impress tasters with their consistent quality. Anthony loves to welcome visitors to his estate and is a terrific host. For its stunning Château, lovely soft wines, and warm welcome, we cannot imagine a better introduction to the region of Pessac-Leognan.

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Further Reading

Author

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James lawrence

With a passion for food & drink that verges on the obsessive, wine writer James Lawrence has traveled the world in search of the perfect tipple. To date, nothing has surpassed the 1952 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Rioja Reserva, tasted in the cobweb-filled cellars with owner María José. Meanwhile, James has been writing for a wide variety of publications for over 12 years, including Telegraph, Decanter, Harpers, The Drinks Business, and Wine Business International. He lives in South Wales and returns to his former university city, Bilbao, as much as possible.

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