Chateau L'Enclos Carbonnieux Pessac Blanc 2019 - Leognan, France

93/100 Tasting Book
92/100 Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider
94/100 Wine Spectator (2018 Vintage)

Jeff Leve "Already soft and silky, and showing good freshness to the sweet red fruits. The wine is medium-bodied with nice length and a good persistency of flavor. You can drink this young or age it for more aromatic complexity."

Wine Spectator " A brisk lemon pith note flanks a core of lemon curd, honeysuckle, tarragon, oyster shell and salted butter notes, with a hint of warm, herbed focaccia on the finish adding range and contrast. Delicious. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Drink now through 2026. 10,835 cases made. —JM" (2018 Vintage)

Château Carbonnieux is a Grand Cru Classé de Graves chateaux and is one of the most ancient wine growing estates in Bordeaux and has made wine uninterrupted since the 13th Century. The Chateau is based in the Pessac-Léognan region of Bordeaux, where it produces both white and red wines. 

The white wines of Château Carbonnieux were seen as some of the top wines of Graves. Historically it was known that there were two original leaders in terms of winemaking in Pessac-Léognan – Château Carbonnieux for white wines and Châteaux Haut-Brion for red wines.

In 1953, 14 châteaux from the Graves region were honoured with the title of “Crus Classés” (Classified Growths), either for their white wines or red wines or both. Château Carbonnieux was renowned for both it’s red and white wines. There are only 6 Châteaux (Bouscaut, Chevalier, Latour-Martillac, Malartic-Lagravière, Olivier and Carbonnieux) among the 9000 wineries from the Bordeaux region that have a classification for both their red and white wines. The 14 “Crus Classés” from the Graves region have been in the Pessac-Léognan AOC since it was created in 1987.

Pessac-Leognan is a prestigious appellation for wines produced in a particular area of the Bordeaux region of south-western France. A relatively new appellation, it was carved out of the Graves sub-region in 1987 – recognized in its own right on the merits of its high-quality red and white wines. This was a significant change, as many of the chateaux in what is now Pessac-Leognan were the best performers in the Graves Classification of 1959.

Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon is a classic Bordeaux white wine blend. It is most widely produced in France, most notably Bordeaux's Graves district, where both Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are well-established varieties. It also has more recently caught on in Australia, particularly Margaret River. The versatile blend is typically made into crisp, dry wines, but it is also the blend of choice for the world's most prestigious sweet wine style, Sauternes.

The blend is endowed with vibrant acidity and grassy aromas by Sauvignon Blanc, and its structure and mouthfeel from Semillon. This blend is a modern, simplified version of the classic White Bordeaux Blend, in which Muscadelle, Sauvignon Gris, Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Merlot Blanc may be added to the mix.

The typical Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are also planted in the vineyards. Château Carbonnieux strives to practice organic and sustainable farming throughout the vineyards.