Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Château Carbonnieux Blanc 2023 – Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé de Graves BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A high-acid driven dry white leaning sharply toward citrus intensity and linearity, built on a Sauvignon Blanc 70% and Sémillon 30% blend. The profile skews more angular than balanced, with tart fruit and brisk tension dominating the palate, limiting overall harmony and textural generosity in this showing.

Aromas & Flavors
Sharp lemon, lime pith, green apple skin, underripe pear, chalk dust, herbal edge, faint saline and restrained oak.

Mouthfeel
Light-to-medium body with piercing acidity, tight structure, minimal mid-palate cushioning, and a brisk, slightly aggressive finish that emphasizes tartness over roundness.

Food Pairings
Raw oysters, ceviche, goat cheese salads, vinaigrette-driven dishes, lean shellfish preparations where acidity can mirror the food.

Verdict
Technically correct but stylistically too severe in this vintage showing, lacking the balance and polish seen in top-tier peers. The acid drive overwhelms texture and complexity, making this less compelling in a premium comparative lineup.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one just doesn’t land for me, too tart, too aggressive, and missing the mid-palate generosity I crave in great Pessac Blanc. After the precision and harmony of Chevalier’s (my preferred benchmark), this feels more like a calibration miss than a contender. — 13 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2019 vintage. Surprising stuffing for $18 a btl resto cost. In the notes for a cheap chicken BDX rouge. — 9 months ago

David Lincoln

9.2

Velvety smooth. Fruit and pencil shavings. Decanted from an imperial 6 liter bottle for an Independence Day dinner on Cow. — 4 years ago

Mo

9.2

One of my favorite Bordeaux white blends. The Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion from this Château is a great expression from Pessac-Léognan. — 3 months ago

Paul J

9.3

375ml. Needed a decant and is still very young. Dark cherries, leather, and licorice eventually come through but wine was very tight. After an hour it was elegant and rustic at the same time. Would love to try again in 5+yrs. — 5 months ago

with Brooke

Roger Custer

9.5

Wow. Great white wine full of bold fruit and wood with a buttery taste that melts in your mouth. Definitely would get this again. — 3 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.0

A bit austere — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc & 35% Semillon, pale lemon-green color with pronounce aromas of tropical and stone fruits with herb notes, 25% new oak. On the palate flavors of melon, apple and grapefruit with peppers and a touch of herbs. Medium+ length, balanced lively acidity, ending with a fruit and mineral character. Very good to drink now, will benefit from bottle aging. — 5 months ago

Nick DiSanto

9.0

V is for Vino 10-27-22. — 3 years ago

Pooneet K

8.9

Sometimes you just want a nice relatively classic Bordeaux. Not sure I’d had their second wine before. Nice with some great classic Bordeaux notes with a nice long finish with good balance. — 6 years ago