Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan Rouge 2018

One of Graves’ great châteaux, with vines planted on the region’s famous deep gravels. Carbonnieux Rouge is Cabernet Sauvignon-led, classically Pessac in profile — fine tannins, freshness, integrated oak, and what we’d call luxury without weight. 2018 in Pessac-Léognan was a powerful, structured vintage: this is the denser, more brooding face of Carbonnieux, with dark fruit, gravel, and a real spine of Cabernet. Notably, the château itself recommends pairing the reds with fowl, swordfish, even tuna — they’re more versatile than you’d expect for serious Bordeaux. Built to age, drinking well now with a decant.