Château Carbonnieux - White 2024
In the heart of Pessac-Léognan, Château Carbonnieux belongs to the historic estates of Graves, whose reputation rests as much on white wines as on reds. The estate, whose viticultural history dates back several centuries, has been managed by the Perrin family since the mid-20th century. Its vast vineyard stretches over gravelly hills mixed with sands and clays, with a particularly interesting variety of plots for white grape varieties. Sauvignon blanc and sémillon find here a natural balance between aromatic maturity, freshness, and depth. The vineyard work aims to preserve this terroir identity and to obtain grapes capable of combining intensity and tension. In a 2024 vintage marked in Bordeaux by a demanding season, the selection of grapes and the precision of ripeness take on decisive importance. Carbonnieux White 2024 thus fits into a register of freshness, aromatic clarity, and elegance, faithful to the classic style of the great whites of Pessac-Léognan.
Sauvignon blanc forms the backbone of the cuvée, bringing its aromatic brightness, liveliness, and citrus nuances, while sémillon complements the whole with more volume and depth. Grapes from the different plots are worked separately to preserve the personality of each terroir before blending. The vinification favors precision and fruit protection, with aging intended to develop texture without weighing down the wine's profile. Contact with fine lees helps enrich the mid-palate while maintaining a fresh and taut expression. The presence of sémillon gradually brings rounder and slightly waxy nuances, capable of gaining complexity with a few years in the bottle. However, sauvignon retains a central place in the balance, giving energy and a particularly dynamic finish. The 2024 vintage presents itself as a white built more on freshness and precision than on demonstrative richness.
The color appears in a luminous pale yellow tone with slightly green reflections. The nose develops notes of lemon, grapefruit, white peach, and fresh flowers, accompanied by a fine and perfectly integrated vegetal touch. Aeration can reveal nuances of pear, white fruits, wet stone, and a slight smoky dimension characteristic of Graves. The palate is straight and energetic, with a precise attack followed by a fuller mid-palate brought by the sémillon. Well-integrated acidity maintains tension throughout and prolongs the sensation of freshness. The finish stretches over citrus, white fruits, and a subtle mineral and saline imprint. Château Carbonnieux White 2024 will accompany oysters, sea bream ceviche, langoustines, roasted sea bass, sole meunière, or poultry with morels.
Grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon