In the heart of the Bordeaux vineyard, Chateau Carbonneau is situated 20 kilometres from St Emilion and 35 kilometres from Bergerac. In a unique and idyllic setting, the chateau offers luxury accommodation and fine wines on the slopes of Pessac sur Dordogne.

Shortly after 1992, Wilfrid and Jacquie Franc de Ferriere inherited the property and began by replanting the vineyard with grape varieties typical of the Bordeaux region, especially Merlot which grows well on the slopes of Gensac. Thus began the revival of wine at Carbonneau. The Vineyard covers 15 hectares planted on the clay/limestone soils of the slopes of Gensac.

Chateau du Tertre Margaux is one of the estate’s flagship wines. It is silky and elegant, yet powerful and concentrated. The palate is fruit forward with excellent texture, tannin and balance. This wine will age very well in the cellar but is already drinking excellently.

Formerly known as the 'Reserve d'Angludet', this is the ‘Second Wine’ produced by Chateau Angludet with the younger vines on the estate and made in the same way as the flagship estate wine.

Chateau Angludet has a long history dating back to the 12th century situated in the Margaux plateau surrounded by Grand Cru Classes.

Made of a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot on deep gravel and pebble soils. Aged in French oak barrels.

Youthful bouquet that opens gradually to offer up a rich palate of wild fruit, violets, blackberry, blackcurrant and plum. Smooth palate, with fruit plumpness to the moderate tannins and a hint of toastiness.

Château d'Armailhac is a wine estate in the Pauillac appellation of the Médoc. As Mouton d'Armailhac, it was ranked as a fifth growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Improvements in quality in recent decades mean that it is now regarded as one of Pauillac's best-value wines.

Neal Martin Rating 91

"The 2009 Château d'Armailhac has a lovely nose, the Cabernet Sauvignon component more expressive compared to my previous encounter, graphite infusing the generous black fruit that is in keeping with the style. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of cherry liqueur and spice on the entry, the Merlot in the driving seat with good acidity and a lively, spicy finish with tobacco, hickory and black pepper on the aftertaste. It is a delicious d'Armailhac that is just about ready to rock 'n roll. Tasted August 2016."

Drink Date 2018 - 2032

This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from gravelly parcels in Pauillac and is aged in 60% new oak and the remainder one-year-old oak. The bouquet is gentle and understated and leads to a medium-bodied palate with grippy tannins, heightened graphite notes, and a focused and compelling finish offering crisp pencil shaving notes. Drink now and through to 2040.

Traditional vinification is carried out in cement vats. Vatting lasts for between 20 and 30 days, depending on the vintage and, after the malolactic fermentation, the wines go into barrel (one-third renewed every year) and remain there for 12 months. The final selection of which wines will go to make the final blend for Château Angludet is made in the following February or March. The process of selection is strict (as only the best wines can be included) and is done by a series of tastings. Once the final blend has been done, the wine is fined with egg whites and very lightly filtered before bottling. Drink 2023-2035.

The second wine of Domaine de Chevalier, L'Esprit de Chevalier shows complexity, depth and power expected from the deep gravel soils of the Graves. In the vineyard and winery innovation is constant, Olivier Bernard and his team are always pushing to improve the wines while showcasing each vintage as it comes. L'Esprit can be enjoyed now or in the next six years where it will age gracefully in the cellar.

Grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc

Chateau Larroque is based just outside the 'Graves' appellation in the southern part of Bordeaux.  Made from the classic blend of Bordeaux grapes, and matured for 12 months in French oak before further aging in bottle.

On first opening, medium bodied on the palate, red cherry and dried fruits, toasted almonds with dusty savoury bramble and spice. Once given a chance to breathe opens up to offer generous plump juicy dark fruits, cassis and liquorice.

Superb value for 'left bank' Bordeaux.

A lovely traditionally styled left bank Bordeaux from a Cru Bourgeois property in the north of Medoc. The vines were fully replanted in the late 70's with 47% Cabernet, 45% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 3% Petit Verdot and the wine offers lovely concentrated dark bramble fruits with beautifully integrated tannins and acid.

The primary grape is Cabernet Sauvignon, which is balanced by Merlot and Cab Franc. These varieties, along with the incredibly gravelly soils which gave the region it’s name, give you an extremely earthy wine with plenty of power and character.

The nose has notes of dark fruit, damp grass, mushroom and crushed stones. The palate continues the trend but adds mouth drying tannins; dark fruit character comes through. The finish is slightly herbaceous with notes of toasted cedar.
 A great glimpse of Graves at a great price.

This cheeky little quaffer has a fresh and fragrant nose of red fruits and toasty elments. The palate is supple and balanced with silky tannins and further notes of red fruit.

Notes on the 2020 vintage.

The particularly mild winter favoured rapid warming of the soil and early budburst, as in 2019, 10 days ahead of the average. Following the heavy rains in April, some soils were waterlogged, with symptoms of root asphyxia and slowed growth often observed. Despite cooler temperatures in June, the vines maintained their advance. The lack of rain in the summer was responsible for poor berry growth and significant water stress from July onwards. The veraison was slow but regular. The heat and dryness of the summer caused us to lose part of the lead we had. The ripening of the grapes took place in optimal conditions (high temperatures, long periods of sunshine, nights less hot than in July). These ideal climatic conditions continued until 20 September, allowing the Merlot and Cabernet plots to be harvested with peace of mind in October.

Location
Paradis Casseuil covers some sixty hectares to the south-east of Bordeaux in the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers region. The vineyard is spread out over three communes, whose landscape of hills and slopes is reminiscent of Tuscany.

Terroir
The Paradis Casseuil terroir is mainly linked to the molasse of the Agenais, a typical geological formation of the Entre-Deux-Mers plateau, but also to the Asteria limestone, which appears at the place called "Le Paradis".
Over the course of the blocks, these two formations have a wide variety of sedimentary facies: sandstone limestone, marl, clay with calcareous nodules, variegated magnesian molasse, etc.
The soils that develop here are usually very clayey and rich in calcium. They thus benefit from excellent structural porosity, which is favourable to deep root development, but also from a certain coolness.

Winemaking
This wine is made according to traditional methods in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation was followed by 10-15 days maceration at 28°C allowing for a gentle extraction of colour and tannins. Maceration times and pumping over were adjusted for each batch. 60% of the blend is wooded, in order to achieve its exceptional balance between elegance and fruitiness.

Grapes
70 % - Merlot
30 % - Cabernet sauvignon

Tasting
The 2020 vintage has a beautiful ruby colour. It develops a pretty bouquet with fruity and intense notes. It is a supple wine with little body. The grape varieties are vinified separately, allowing for a rich and smooth blend. The wine is finely wooded which gives it a characterful finish. It is best drunk immediately but can be forgotten for a few years.

Vieux Cha?teau des Combes is located in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, just five kilometres away from the historic village of Saint-Emilion. This is a deep, ruby red wine. Complex aromas of ripe berries and spice lead into a palate rich with flavours of dark red fruits and coffee.