The bottle was opened and slow-oxed for two hours before the tasting, then aerated in a decanter for half an hour. The indicative blend is about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot and a little bit of Cabernet Franc, in some vintages a dash of Petit Verdot and Carmenère as well. Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (1/3 new). 12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
Classic Bordeaux nose with aromas of sweet blackcurrants and crème de cassis, new leather, some woody notes of pencil shavings, light fruity notes of red plums, a little bit of wild strawberry and a hint of earth. The wine doesn't show any leafy greenness but rather some autumnal notes of damp leaves. The wine feels ripe, juicy and textural on the palate with a moderately full body and subtly sweet-toned flavors of ripe blackcurrants, some licorice tones, a little bit of toasty mocha oak and vanilla, light plummy tones, a hint of cherry pit and a sweet touch of crème de cassis. The rather high acidity takes care of the structure, whereas the ample yet fully resolved, soft tannins mainly contribute to the velvety texture. The finish is juicy and ripe yet pretty dry with long flavors of blackcurrants, some oaky notes of bittersweet dark chocolate, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of gravelly minerality, a hint of vanilla and a toasty touch of cocoa.
A stylish, juicy and quite polished Pessac-Léognan that feels still surprisingly youthful and vibrant for its age - at the age of 23 years the wine shows surprisingly little tertiary characteristics and is still brimming with ripe, cassis-driven fruit. While the previous bottle I had was very oxidative and pretty much shot, this wine drank very similarly to the bottle I had a few months ago, 1st of August. Terrific stuff that will continue to develop for many years more - although the wine doesn't really call for any additional cellaring as its tannins are so smooth, supple and resolved. Drink now, if you prefer still youthful, fruit-forward Graves; age for another 7-10 years if you prefer more tertiary character. Solid value at 26€.
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The indicative blend is about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot and a little bit of Cabernet Franc, in some vintages a dash of Petit Verdot and Carmenère as well. Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (1/3 new). 12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
Very deep, dark and quite opaque blackish red with a slightly brownish hue and a moderately translucent rim. The nose feels dull, pungent and quite oxidative with aromas of soy sauce, some meat stew, a little bit of borsch, light leafy notes and a hint of damp earth. The wine is dry, silky and very tertiary on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and dull flavors of soy sauce, beef jerky and some old leather. No fruit to speak of. High in acidity with very soft, fully resolved tannins. The finish is short, dull and oxidative with saline flavors of soy sauce, some beef jerky, a little bit of earth and light autumnal notes of dried leaves.
By complete coincidence I had this bottle - in a blind tasting, no less - only three days after I had the same wine at home with food. However, the wines couldn't have been any further from each other! My bottle was simple exceptionally youthful with still remarkably vibrant flavors of crème de cassis and blueberries, while this wine was completely shot and in pieces. Talk about bottle variation!
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The indicative blend is about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot and a little bit of Cabernet Franc, in some vintages a dash of Petit Verdot and Carmenère as well. Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (1/3 new). 12,5% alcohol.
Quite deep and still surprisingly opaque blackish-red color with a figgy hue. Very rich, expressive and somewhat evolved nose with sweetish, dark-toned aromas of wizened blackcurrants and crème de cassis, ripe dark plums, some woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of earth, light cocoa notes, a hint of ripe black cherry and a touch of old leather. A classic and instantly recognizable Bordeaux nose, although surprisingly lush and youthful for a wine 23 years old. The wine feels surprisingly rich, ripe and sweet-toned on the palate, yet at the same time coming across as dry and balanced. A moderately full body, very silky texture and juicy flavors of ripe blackcurrants - at times almost marmaladey in intensity - supported with notes of dark plums and blueberry juice, some woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of cocoa, light earthy notes, a hint of vanilla oak and an evolved touch of dried figs. The acidity feels quite high, lending nice sense of balance to the wine, yet quite round and smooth at the same time. This roundness in acidity, combined with the soft and fully resolved tannins, only accentuates the silky smooth texture of the wine. The finish is rich and juicy with only the slightest hint of tannic grip on the gums. A long aftertaste of ripe blackcurrants, crème de cassis and blueberry juice, some woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of leather, light oaky notes of vanilla and milk chocolate, a hint of earth and a sweet touch of dried dark fruits.
A very taste, fine and harmonious Pessac-Léognan red that comes across as surprisingly youthful and vibrant for a Bordeaux almost quarter a century old - something I didn't expect based on the preceding notes in CT. Especially the lush, blackcurrant-driven fruit - that veers into blackcurrant marmalade and crème de cassis territory at times - and the smooth, silky texture make the wine feel like a very fruit-forward crowdpleaser, yet the wine never comes across as a hedonistic fruit bomb, as it retains its good sense of poise and elegance throughout. Aging-wise I'd say the fruit will keep for a very long time and the wine is nigh middle-aged in its expression, but structure-wise the wine doesn't call for any further aging - it is ready for business right now. However, thanks for its balanced acidity, I have no doubts the wine will continue to keep good for years more. Drink or keep. Although I prefer leaner style of Bordeaux with less emphasis on the sweeter-fruited notes, this was a nice drop in the style. Solid value for the quality at 26€.
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An easy afternoon with close friends. 2016-02: Pessac. (@ PdV): There is a garnet rim here. In the bouquet coffee, tea, chocolate, vanilla and pleasant rustic flavors. On the palate a mouth filling wine with chocolate, sweet spices, ripe red fruits, some sweetness, but also good acidity. Soft and round tannin. The wine is completely ready now, but it will probably stay on this level for one or two years. Wise to drink it now or before the end of 2018.
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No '98 somberness, perfect, lively, medium deep colour, fresh nose, ripe, still fruit and that continuous in the balanced taste with good tannins; no signs of decay.
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A very mature bottle tonight compared to some of the earlier tastings I have had of this wine. Classically structured with a stoney, earthy palate and mature fruit. Definitely in its drinking window, and based on this bottle I wouldn't hang around too long if you have any left. Very decent food wine. There is some merit, I believe, in drinking these Château Carbonnieux a touch younger while they still have the vigour of youth.
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Just creeping out of its dumb phase (which may explain some of the lower scores below) - this wine has good tannic structure to support the development of the fruit for another 10 years easily. The more stalky elements to this wine are slowly melting away to reveal charcoal, berries, minerals and a deeper undercurrent of quality that should start to reveal itself over the next 5-10 years.
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This wine was a bit weird; pure lead pencil shavings on the nose with some hints of currants faaaar back. On the palate, it tastes of iron, leather and tobacco. Needs tons of fruit to balance out the mineral aspects. Medium bodied.
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Ruby in color with a nose of sweet cherry leading to a mouth in imbalance with the acid currently outweighing the fruit. The palate also has lots of cedar.
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Good bright claret, nice depth. Tight mineral, leather, touch of cedar. Nicely balanced, intersting mouthful. Med tannins, bit of decent fruit, good length. Fine. VG+. Overpriced.
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11/5/2022 - chatters wrote:
Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (The Landmark, London): Wet earth, Autumn leaves, slight cellar stink, blackcurrant core, dried brambles, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, drying tannins are flour textured, long, autumnal tertiary notes, still broad, nice.
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10/31/2022 - CarpeDiem! wrote: 88 Points
Bottle way beyond ist peak and thinning
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11/15/2021 - msauer wrote: 89 Points
Gereift, leicht stumpf, noch knackig, kaum Holz. Fliederbeere. Schmeckte auch Ki ( nach Marquis de terme 95)
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10/26/2021 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points
The bottle was opened and slow-oxed for two hours before the tasting, then aerated in a decanter for half an hour. The indicative blend is about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot and a little bit of Cabernet Franc, in some vintages a dash of Petit Verdot and Carmenère as well. Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (1/3 new). 12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
Classic Bordeaux nose with aromas of sweet blackcurrants and crème de cassis, new leather, some woody notes of pencil shavings, light fruity notes of red plums, a little bit of wild strawberry and a hint of earth. The wine doesn't show any leafy greenness but rather some autumnal notes of damp leaves. The wine feels ripe, juicy and textural on the palate with a moderately full body and subtly sweet-toned flavors of ripe blackcurrants, some licorice tones, a little bit of toasty mocha oak and vanilla, light plummy tones, a hint of cherry pit and a sweet touch of crème de cassis. The rather high acidity takes care of the structure, whereas the ample yet fully resolved, soft tannins mainly contribute to the velvety texture. The finish is juicy and ripe yet pretty dry with long flavors of blackcurrants, some oaky notes of bittersweet dark chocolate, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of gravelly minerality, a hint of vanilla and a toasty touch of cocoa.
A stylish, juicy and quite polished Pessac-Léognan that feels still surprisingly youthful and vibrant for its age - at the age of 23 years the wine shows surprisingly little tertiary characteristics and is still brimming with ripe, cassis-driven fruit. While the previous bottle I had was very oxidative and pretty much shot, this wine drank very similarly to the bottle I had a few months ago, 1st of August. Terrific stuff that will continue to develop for many years more - although the wine doesn't really call for any additional cellaring as its tannins are so smooth, supple and resolved. Drink now, if you prefer still youthful, fruit-forward Graves; age for another 7-10 years if you prefer more tertiary character. Solid value at 26€.
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8/4/2021 - forceberry wrote: flawed
The indicative blend is about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot and a little bit of Cabernet Franc, in some vintages a dash of Petit Verdot and Carmenère as well. Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (1/3 new). 12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
Very deep, dark and quite opaque blackish red with a slightly brownish hue and a moderately translucent rim. The nose feels dull, pungent and quite oxidative with aromas of soy sauce, some meat stew, a little bit of borsch, light leafy notes and a hint of damp earth. The wine is dry, silky and very tertiary on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and dull flavors of soy sauce, beef jerky and some old leather. No fruit to speak of. High in acidity with very soft, fully resolved tannins. The finish is short, dull and oxidative with saline flavors of soy sauce, some beef jerky, a little bit of earth and light autumnal notes of dried leaves.
By complete coincidence I had this bottle - in a blind tasting, no less - only three days after I had the same wine at home with food. However, the wines couldn't have been any further from each other! My bottle was simple exceptionally youthful with still remarkably vibrant flavors of crème de cassis and blueberries, while this wine was completely shot and in pieces. Talk about bottle variation!
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8/1/2021 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points
The indicative blend is about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot and a little bit of Cabernet Franc, in some vintages a dash of Petit Verdot and Carmenère as well. Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (1/3 new). 12,5% alcohol.
Quite deep and still surprisingly opaque blackish-red color with a figgy hue. Very rich, expressive and somewhat evolved nose with sweetish, dark-toned aromas of wizened blackcurrants and crème de cassis, ripe dark plums, some woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of earth, light cocoa notes, a hint of ripe black cherry and a touch of old leather. A classic and instantly recognizable Bordeaux nose, although surprisingly lush and youthful for a wine 23 years old. The wine feels surprisingly rich, ripe and sweet-toned on the palate, yet at the same time coming across as dry and balanced. A moderately full body, very silky texture and juicy flavors of ripe blackcurrants - at times almost marmaladey in intensity - supported with notes of dark plums and blueberry juice, some woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of cocoa, light earthy notes, a hint of vanilla oak and an evolved touch of dried figs. The acidity feels quite high, lending nice sense of balance to the wine, yet quite round and smooth at the same time. This roundness in acidity, combined with the soft and fully resolved tannins, only accentuates the silky smooth texture of the wine. The finish is rich and juicy with only the slightest hint of tannic grip on the gums. A long aftertaste of ripe blackcurrants, crème de cassis and blueberry juice, some woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of leather, light oaky notes of vanilla and milk chocolate, a hint of earth and a sweet touch of dried dark fruits.
A very taste, fine and harmonious Pessac-Léognan red that comes across as surprisingly youthful and vibrant for a Bordeaux almost quarter a century old - something I didn't expect based on the preceding notes in CT. Especially the lush, blackcurrant-driven fruit - that veers into blackcurrant marmalade and crème de cassis territory at times - and the smooth, silky texture make the wine feel like a very fruit-forward crowdpleaser, yet the wine never comes across as a hedonistic fruit bomb, as it retains its good sense of poise and elegance throughout. Aging-wise I'd say the fruit will keep for a very long time and the wine is nigh middle-aged in its expression, but structure-wise the wine doesn't call for any further aging - it is ready for business right now. However, thanks for its balanced acidity, I have no doubts the wine will continue to keep good for years more. Drink or keep. Although I prefer leaner style of Bordeaux with less emphasis on the sweeter-fruited notes, this was a nice drop in the style. Solid value for the quality at 26€.
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5/14/2016 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
An easy afternoon with close friends. 2016-02: Pessac. (@ PdV): There is a garnet rim here. In the bouquet coffee, tea, chocolate, vanilla and pleasant rustic flavors. On the palate a mouth filling wine with chocolate, sweet spices, ripe red fruits, some sweetness, but also good acidity. Soft and round tannin. The wine is completely ready now, but it will probably stay on this level for one or two years. Wise to drink it now or before the end of 2018.
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8/9/2014 - FransS wrote: 91 Points
No '98 somberness, perfect, lively, medium deep colour, fresh nose, ripe, still fruit and that continuous in the balanced taste with good tannins; no signs of decay.
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7/29/2011 - pjaines wrote:
A very mature bottle tonight compared to some of the earlier tastings I have had of this wine. Classically structured with a stoney, earthy palate and mature fruit. Definitely in its drinking window, and based on this bottle I wouldn't hang around too long if you have any left. Very decent food wine. There is some merit, I believe, in drinking these Château Carbonnieux a touch younger while they still have the vigour of youth.
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4/11/2010 - pjaines wrote:
Just creeping out of its dumb phase (which may explain some of the lower scores below) - this wine has good tannic structure to support the development of the fruit for another 10 years easily. The more stalky elements to this wine are slowly melting away to reveal charcoal, berries, minerals and a deeper undercurrent of quality that should start to reveal itself over the next 5-10 years.
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12/24/2008 - JorgeH wrote: 81 Points
This wine was a bit weird; pure lead pencil shavings on the nose with some hints of currants faaaar back. On the palate, it tastes of iron, leather and tobacco. Needs tons of fruit to balance out the mineral aspects. Medium bodied.
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3/22/2005 - flashvictor wrote: 82 Points
Ruby in color with a nose of sweet cherry leading to a mouth in imbalance with the acid currently outweighing the fruit. The palate also has lots of cedar.
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3/1/2005 - Kuban wrote:
Good bright claret, nice depth. Tight mineral, leather, touch of cedar. Nicely balanced, intersting mouthful. Med tannins, bit of decent fruit, good length. Fine. VG+. Overpriced.
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