Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan Semillon '1741 De Carbonnieux' 2020
Product price
$175.00
Description
"Semillon is a grape I wish more people cared about. It is a textural delight and capable of wonderful ageing. It has center stage in Sauternes, where it makes the world's most famous sweet wines, but sadly takes a backseat to the "Meh" that is Sauvignon Blanc in the production of Bordeaux Blanc. As if answering my prayers, Carbonnieux started making their 1741 cuvee (2020 is the first vintage, donchaknow). The idea is to reflect what the white wines would have been like when the monks ran the place. That's what 1741 refers to. It is when the monks were able to buy it back after they'd have to sell it in the 1500s because the Hundred Years War was apparently hard on everyone. Now, if you know anything about what happened in France in the 1790s, you'll know the monks didn't keep it long but lets not focus on that :)"
JT Robertson, General Manager-Le Du Wines
jt@leduwines.com
Expert Reviews
Pale gold in colour, a little reserved right now, with beautifully restrained savoury white peach and pear character, none of the waxy character of Sémillon, although that may come with age, concentrating instead on clean citrus, quince, dill and grilled white pepper spice. Lean, with grip, 2020 was a warm vintage but you don't have any trace of that, except perhaps in the weight and texture though the palate. Plenty of complexity and balance, this has a deftness to it, with presence. 50% new oak, 400l and 225l in size. 32hl/h yield. First vintage of this wine, and a brilliant addition to the Pessac-Léognan whites lineup.