Chateau Carbonnieux

Grand Cru Classé de Graves

French Wines

Chateau Carbonnieux
Chateau Carbonnieux is located just a few miles from Bordeaux. This beautiful castle overlooks one of the largest vineyards in the Graves region. The Estate's seven centuries of history have often been quite dramatic. Carbonnieux is one of the leading Graves Chateaux that justified the creation of the Prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation.

This property is one of the oldest in Graves. The original château was constructed around 1380 during the "Hundred Years War" and consequently its architecture is drawn along castellated lines. It initially belonged to the Bordeaux Hospices, thereafter the Ferron family and then the Councillors at the Parliament of Guyenne from 1519 until 1741. Named after Ramon Carbonnieux in 1234, the Château and vineyards were purchased in 1740 by Benedictines who started bottling wine at the Château. The Benedictines were ousted by the Revolution and the property changed hands several times between 1790 and 1956 when it was acquired by Marc Perrin, father of the current owner.

A member of a family of wine growers of Burgundian origin, the Perrin's had been producing wines in Algeria for the last four generations. Marc Perrin and his son Antony improved the vineyards, restored the Château and modernized all of the working areas. Château Carbonnieux produces as much white wine as it does red.

Chateau Carbonnieux
It is true to say that Carbonnieux has a microclimate that is extremely conducive to winegrowing. This is due to the estate's position on a rise, the effect of the nearby Garonne river and Eau Blanche stream, and the excellent quality of the gravely soil. Furthermore, the proximity of Bordeaux has the effect of increasing the temperature by an average of 2° or 3° in winter. The estate includes 45-hectares of red grape varieties and 43-hectares of white, located on deep gravel slopes in close proximity to the Garonne River and Eau Blanche stream.

Long famous for its white wine, Carbonnieux has been in the unusual position of producing both Red and White Graves for several centuries. The grand vin is Chateau Carbonnieux - red or white - although many would regard the white (20000 cases) as the more significant cuvée. Quality has remained in the ascendant in recent vintages. The red (25000 cases) does not challenge for top wine of the appellation, but it is well made if somewhat rustic, usually appropriately priced, and again quality has been on the up. The second wine is La Tour Léognan.

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