The 2021 Château Carbonnieux has a modern vibe, with plenty of new oak on the nose, yet it brings solid depth of fruit, medium-bodied richness, fine tannins, and solid overall balance. It's certainly nicely made and might end up being an outstanding wine, and it should absorb some of its oak with just short-term aging.
Jeb Dunnuck (June 2022)Score: 88-90/156
The 2021 Carbonnieux is gorgeous. It has more than enough mid-palate depth and overall richness to fill out its frame. Dark red cherry, plum, cinnamon, spice and incense all flesh out with a bit of aeration. Pliant and yet also nicely structured, the 2021 is a winner. I loved it.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (May 2022)Score: 91-93/100Drink 2031-2046
Smoke, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, herbs, currants and plums create the bouquet. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, bright, crisp and savory, the wine finishes with spicy currants and a touch of cigar wrapper in the endnote. The wine blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV.
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (May 2022)Score: 90-92/100Drink 2024-2037
The 2021 Carbonnieux has a focused, quite perfumed bouquet of blackberry, blueberry and crushed stone aromas; the oak is well-integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, and a little short, perhaps, yet balanced, leading to an unassuming finish. Not an exciting Carbonnieux, but I suspect it will develop well in barrel.
Neal Martin, Vinous (May 2022)Score: 89-91/100Drink 2027-2042
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Carbonnieux gives up notes of baked plums and Bing cherries with wafts of unsmoked cigars and wild thyme. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is soft and fruity with compelling purity on the finish.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent (May 2022)Score: 83-85/100Drink 2024-2031
Vibrant fresh fruit on the attack, majoring on blueberry, redcurrant, blackberry, plenty of life, with a fresh core and grip. Floral aromatics as it opens. Cabernet dominant in character, savoury and lean, with quince and lemongrass showing that ripeness is on the edge. Lower Merlot in the blend than usual after mildew, but this is a generous (for the year) 40hl/h yield oveall. Tasted twice.
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux (April 2022)Score: 89/100Drink 2025-2036
Sweet strawberry and red cherry fruit on the nose with some bramble notes. This lacks a little power and depth, but offers gentle cooling blue fruit with juicy acidity - blueberries, black cherries and blackcurrants with fine tannins and a persistent soft grip that carries the flavours from start to finish. It's balanced within a light frame and you get the coolness of the vintage. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
Georgie Hindle, Decanter (April 2022)Score: 89/100Drink 2024-2035
Bordeaux / France
En Primeur
2024-2046