Château Carbonnieux 2016

Château Carbonnieux has returned to traditional working of the soils and is trialling organic farming methods. The property consists of 119 plots with a range of clay, gravels, sand and limestone soils. The 2016 blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, aged 16-18 months in 35% new oak barrels. Andy Howard MW: Toasty oak on the nose, but there’s plenty of concentration to allow this to integrate over time. Dark fruit, berry and cherry. Crisp acidity with a bitter cherry edge to the finish. Robert Mathias: Nose is quite closed, but quite classical with savoury spice and good concentration of black fruits. Refreshing acidity and firm, sinewy tannin. Tim Triptree MW: Intense aromatics, earthy and savoury, cedar, leather with ripe black berries and plum. Opulent, great Pessac typicity. Drinking window: 2022-2040. Score – 95. (Panel, decanter.com, Dec. 13, 2022)