Château Carbonnieux is one of the largest and most ancient growing estates in the Bordeaux region with an incredible history that spans almost eight centuries. The white wines of the estate were seen as some of the top wines of Graves and recognized as one of the original leaders in terms of winemaking in Pessac-Léognan. Such is its reputation for clarity that in the 18th century, this wine was served to the Sultan of Constantinople as “mineral water from Carbonnieux,” bending the Islamic restriction of serving alcohol. The vines are grown in a sustainable and eco-responsible manner and planted around an actual castle that sits on a deep ridge of clay-limestone near the Garonne River. Those soils bring out a refreshing fruity, floral, intense wine that, when aged (if you’re able to cellar this beauty), will develop hints of dried and candied fruits. The Sauvignon Blanc brings acidity and liveliness to the party while the Sémillon calms our girl down with some round structure to create the perfect bottle. It makes for a light and zesty wine with those gravelly soils bringing a slight chalky mineral texture. The acidity is quite intense and the wine is crisp, making it impossible to resist a second or possibly even third glass.