Château Carbonnieux 2018

Tightly drawn, with a cloak of alder and juniper over the core of steeped plum and black currant flavors. Lots of tar, bramble, loam and sweet bay accents score the finish, which sports heft and muscle. Superb showing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2038. 12,500 cases made.

Bold personality featuring intense dark fruit. Dense yet restrained, plush mouthfeel with fresh acidity and powerful tannins on the finish. Youthful with potential for development.

Blackberry, dried violet, gravel, chocolate and iodine aromas. It’s medium- to full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Chewy, flavorful finish. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Try from 2024.

The 2018 Carbonnieux has a very tight bouquet that only starts to reveal itself after 90 minutes, offering blackberry and bilberry fruit with a touch of cedar and mint; I just wish there were more intensity. The palate is better, with blackberry and cedar, and light graphite notes emerging over time. Good freshness here, and satisfying weight toward the finish. All that’s missing is a little finesse. Otherwise, this is a decent, though not top-grade, Carbonnieux.

Campfire embers, cedar, tobacco leaf, spice and red pit fruits create the core of this medium-bodied, elegant, fresh wine. Soft and polished with a solid depth of flavor and a hint of oak in the elegant finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle edge brightening. Delicate notes of plum and liquorice, candied orange zest, a hint of fig, inviting bouquet. Juicy, red heart cherry, fresh texture, well-integrated tannins, mineral-salty finish, lingers, good certain ageing potential. (2020-2040).

I loved the 2018 Château Carbonnieux. This Merlot- and Cabernet Sauvignon–dominated Pessac sports a deep purple hue as well as ripe, sexy aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, chocolate, leafy tobacco, and earth. Beautifully textured, with silky tannins and outstanding balance, it's already drinking brilliantly yet has a solid 10–15 years of longevity ahead of it.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 14% alc./vol., 33 hl/ha) Fragrant, fruity, floral bouquet with fine notes of plum, cherry, mocha yogurt. Silky, delicate palate with fine, sweet fruit, good tannins, a creamy, finely muscular structure, powerful aromatics, and a long, fragrant, slightly dry finish.

(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 14% vol. alcohol, 33 hl/ha) Fragrant, fruity, floral bouquet with fine notes of damson, cherry, and mocha yogurt. Silky, finely structured palate with delicate, sweet fruit, good tannins, a creamy, finely muscular structure, powerful aromatics, and a long, fragrant, slightly dry finish. 17/20 2023 - 2036

The 2018 Carbonnieux has a deep garnet-purple color. It offers up scents of baked plums, warm blackberries, and spice cake, with hints of chocolate mint and cedar. It is medium to full-bodied with a soft texture and plenty of bright fruit on the palate, finishing with a minty lift.

The initial nose reveals fresh fruit notes of blackberry and blackcurrant, then, with aeration, aromas of spice and cinnamon emerge. The palate is very structured and shows excellent length.

Deep garnet red. Such beautiful fruit intensity, marked by notes of red berries and nuances of cinnamon. On the palate, the wine shows freshness and tannins that provide solid backbone. They are still a bit angular, but they match the acidity, which lends pedigree to the finish.

This structured, dense wine is packed with as much tannins as fruit at this stage. Balance is coming and this ripe wine, with its solid, dark texture and black-plum fruits, holds good promise. Drink from 2025.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Carbonnieux gives up wonderfully pure scents of ripe black cherries, mulberries and cassis, plus suggestions of Ceylon tea, black olive and lavender with a pinch of ground cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of spicy black fruit flavors, supported by grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with a peppery kick.