Wow. Great white wine full of bold fruit and wood with a buttery taste that melts in your mouth. Definitely would get this again. — 4 years ago
Pretty stark contrast between this and the Chateau Carbonnieux drank alongside. Much more regal, linear and mature. On the nose, mature dark fruit, forest floor, cassis, leather. Similar in the mouth. Some tannins with good acid. Needed about 2 hours in a decanter to fully realize potential. A proper and mature Pauillac. — 6 years ago
The 2024 vintage wasn’t on the App’s list, but this is a 2024 vintage. Mangoes and peaches on the nose. slightly watery on the front. Lovely astringency with a soft ending. 67% Sauv Blanc & 33% Sémillon. — a month ago
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. — 9 months ago
Velvety smooth. Fruit and pencil shavings. Decanted from an imperial 6 liter bottle for an Independence Day dinner on Cow. — 4 years ago
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. — 4 months ago
V is for Vino 10-27-22. — 4 years ago
Peter van den Besselaar
vintage 2021 | 65 sauvignon 35 semillon | Refinement, very precise, lemon (no sauvignon domination) | paired with ray wing | at Bitterpeeën in Antwerpen — 23 days ago