When Thomas Jefferson went to the Bordeaux reason of France he visited a handful of vineyards. Chateaux Haut Brion and d’Yquem were among them, not surprisingly; but Jefferson also visited Chateau Carbonnieux. Carbonnieux is in Pessac-Léognan, the same Graves neighborhood as Haut Brion; but today it is known for its fine dry whites more than for its reds.
In recent generations, Chateau Carbonnieux has been in the hands of the Perrin family, who continue to turn out excellent wine. Philibert Perrin has made a personal project out of Chateau Lafont Menaut, a nearby vineyard that had fallen into disrepair. Over the last few decades he has restored both the vines and the production facilities, and today the property offers delicious red and white Graves at particularly attractive prices. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the red, and the white is from Sauvignon Blanc. Both wines are raised in oak barrels.
