Name: 2019 Chateau de Carlmagnus - 750 ml
Brand: Chateau de Carlmagnus
SKU: 100782-750-AI
Price: 19.99 USD
Availability: InStock

2019 Chateau de Carlmagnus

92 VM

Qty:

Sokolin Notes:
A Terrific Bordeaux Value - 92 Points & Only $19.99!

From the critics:

90-92 RP

92 DEC

90 JS

Featured Review

The 2019 Carlmagnus has a perfumed nose of ample black fruit, spicebox and light cedar aromas; the oak here is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied and quite fleshy, with supple tannins and plush red cherries and wild strawberry mixed with desiccated orange peel toward the finish. This has matured nicely in barrel. Vinous Media

Vinous (Galloni) | 92 VM

The deep garnet-purple colored 2019 Carlmagnus bursts from the glass with ripe black and blue fruit notions of plums preserves, blueberry compote and blackberry pie with hints of hoisin, licorice and clove oil plus a touch of dark chocolate. The full-bodied, rich, seductive palate is laden with spicy black fruits and a beautifully velvety texture, finishing with a peppery lift.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90-92 RP

Aromatic and herbal on the nose, sweetly fruited with strawberries and cherries but with this edge of dried herbs - rosemary and thyme. Gorgeous clarity - precise, clean, bountiful, generous and bright. Great acidity and just clarity of fruit - feels polished and sleek with excellent juice on the mid palate and a lovely chared smokiness that gives a striking detail to the overall profile. Well-textured tannins are grippy but also softly chewy giving a dense and plentiful mouthful but with charm - nothing too much. Drink now and enjoy the youthful vibrancy but this will be good over time too. Just a touch of liquorice spice on the finish giving texture and nuance. The best grapes from the 40ha under vine go into this wine. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2035

Decanter | 92 DEC

Dark cherries, mulberries, licorice, olives and mushrooms on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins. Soft and fruity with a supple finish. Drink in 2022.

James Suckling | 90 JS

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Red Bordeaux Blend : The inhabitants of the Bordeaux region of France have been cultivating wine-grapes for thousands of years. Ancient Roman ruins litter the vineyards from Saint Emilion to Graves where the art of blending Bordeaux varietals has been practiced and perfected over a very long history. Bordeaux’s climate, terroir and soils, though varied, provide the optimal growing conditions for the red grape varietals planted in the region. Rarely listed on the labels as “blend,” the red wines of Bordeaux are perhaps the most artfully designed and celebrated in the world. The calculated art of blending the native Bordeaux varietals is impressively accomplished in the most famous winegrowing region in the world. The phrase Bordeaux Blend which seems to have been coined by British wine merchants in the 19th Century relates as much to wines made from the blend as to the grape variety combination itself. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and occasionally Carmenere are the lead characters in the creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. Each plays a part in their own fashion and implemented in various combinations and percentages in each appellation within Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux Blends are majorly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, roughly making up 90% of all Bordeaux Blends. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (occasionally Carmenere) are also important components and vital to the production of the region’s red wines. For simplicity, the winegrowing region of Bordeaux can be divided into three main appellations producing Red Bordeaux Blends; the Left Bank (Medoc), Right Bank and Pessac-Leognan (Graves). The Left Bank has a terroir comprised of a wide variety of gravel, stones, sand, limestone and clay soils on a natural terrain of gentle slopes. This sets the stage perfectly for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the dominant grape of the Left Bank. For example, Chateau Lafite (Paulliac) is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Right Bank is dominated by clay and limestone with sand and gravel, but the clay in the Right Bank is distinctly its own and adds to the health, growth and vitality of the vines of the varietals grown here. Right Bank wines are typically 80% Merlot-based, which are often denser, richer and mature earlier than those of the Left Bank (with exceptions – Petrus for example). Merlot is a vital component to Pomerol winegrowing and making. Cabernet Franc also plays a major role in the Right Bank, most notably, in Saint Emilion, where the infamous vineyards of Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval Blanc are planted to 55% and 52% Cabernet Franc, respectively. Chateaux that produce wines with a majority of Cabernet Franc are considered “old school” producers, but have perfected the use of Cabernet Franc, which was originally used as a blending grape. Pessac-Leognan (Graves) enjoys a temperate climate, natural hygrometry influenced by the ocean, and has a terroir composed of gravelly soil over a clay subsoil on sloping, hilly terrain. Natural drainage due to the hilly terrain as well as the gravelly soil structure are perfectly attuned to the Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine, which prospers under these conditions. Pessac reaps the benefits of having the terroir of both the Left and Right Bank as it contains gravel and clay. The clay sub-soil allows the growth and success of Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc. It is home to the only First Growth not in the Medoc. The 50-hectare vineyard of Haut Brion is planted to 45.4% Merlot, 43.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.7% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The percentage of Petit Verdot and Malbec may be lesser in quantity, but not in quality. They are vital to the region’s creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. The combination of Bordeaux varietals is legendary in the region, around the world and has influenced winegrowers worldwide to plant and vinify wines which resemble those of Red Bordeaux Blends.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Subregion	Fronsac
Appellation	Fronsac

Producer	Chateau de Carlmagnus : The appellation of Fronsac, located near the Dordogne River in the unique and majestic region of Bordeaux, is a sight to behold. Its breathtaking beauty of rolling hills that unfurl at the river’s edge and woodlands have earned it the nickname “Tuscany of Gironde”. The wonderful landscape combines with its limestone rich terroir in the creation of the important, and necessary natural components which allow winemakers to produce incredible terroir-driven wines. The respect of this wonderful work of nature is vital to successful winegrowing and making. Arnaud Roux Oulie, owner and winemaker of Chateau Carlmagnus, is one such believer in this philosophy; “The winegrower, in all humility, must have this ability to observe, adapt and evolve according to the criteria of each vintage”. Arnaud Roux-Oulie is a man of many talents; a fencing champion, artist and winemaker. His multiple passions and his inability to prioritize one has enticed him to combine his winemaking ability with his passion for art thus making wine the central theme of his masterpieces. His paintings, whose fawn colors are in perfect harmony with the decor of the world of wine, allow the discovery of his artistic vision of this beautiful blend. When Arnaud isn’t donning a smock and painting bottle labels, he is in the vineyard; "Our goal is not only to produce a great wine but also to make you discover the beauty and richness of our terroir" - Arnaud Roux Oulie. Fronsac, which has benefited from a DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) status since 1937, is a land in which the producers firmly believe they have an honor to work with, the responsibility to perpetuate the know-how and above all, to respect its terroir. The vineyards of Chateau Carlmagnus are composed of clay-limestone soils and naturally drained limestone plateaus. The location enjoys unique climatic conditions; bathed in sunshine and the mildness of temperate oceanic influences. The vineyards are conducive to the production of great wines thanks to its complexity of landscape, terroir and climate. The exclusive vineyard of Carlmagnus, whose name is a direct homage to Emperor Charlemagne (who build a mighty fortress in 770) extends over 38 hectares, with the vines having an average age of 25 years. These plots are dominated by Merlot grapes, which encompass 90% of the vineyard, with Cabernet Franc inhabiting the remaining portion. Each vintage is the fruit of a meticulous selection and careful work to elaborate unique wines. Arnaud, puts his know-how at the service of the terroir; like painting on a canvas, the winegrower expresses his sensibility based on the vintage. Chateau Carlmagnus has developed while remaining faithful to a single philosophy: to produce fantastic wines; while honoring and preserving Fronsac. This is how the culture of the vine has always been carried out in ‘Reasoned Agriculture’. Arnaud's environmental sensitivity has led him to plant lavender and truffle oaks in his vineyard and to place nesting boxes for birds. Convinced that great wine can only develop in harmony with its environment, Arnaud does not limit himself to working in the vineyards but observes and learns what the terroir provides each vintage. Preservation and development of the terroir are decisive factors in the quality of the vineyard, while great wines are born from passion. All these characteristics bring elegance and singularity to Carlmagnus and their wines. Arnaud cultivates his imprint and knowledge of his vineyard year after year. He and his team are guided only by the rhythm so specific to the vine whose maturity they have learned to recognize. To comprehend Chateau Carlmagnus is to understand that behind a great wine hides an exceptional terroir, which is served by passionate men and women.