Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac Leognan Blanc 2013 750ml

The 2013 Carbonnieux Blanc felt primal, a little herbaceous on the nose, perhaps without the complexity of some of its peers and yet it opens intriguingly in the glass, a white Bordeaux coveting secrets perhaps. The palate is very saline, almost Muscadet-like with an edgy, spicy finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a curious Carbonnieux, atypical for the vintage and there is something in that which is very appealing in its individuality. It might not possess the broad appeal of say, Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc, but there is something cerebral about this Carbonnieux Blanc.

• Country: France
• Region: Bordeaux
• Appellation: Graves
• Sub Appellation: Pessac Leognan
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

Varietal

White Bordeaux

France is widely known as being the home of many of the world’s finest white wines, and within France, the name which rings out across the wine world and is always associated with excellence of quality and flavor is Bordeaux. The white wines of the magnificent Bordeaux region are typically blended, and rely on the winemaker’s skill and expertise to achieve the fine balance between the primary grape varietals used. Most blended white Bordeaux wines are made up of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle varietals, although there are actually nine grapes officially allowed by French wine law for the inclusion in Bordeaux white wines. The other six are Sauvignon Gris, Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Ondenc and Mauzac, although the use of these other grapes has been in steady decline over the past century.