Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month - October 2024

For October's wine selection, we feature these wines:

• A Bordeaux white made by Château Carbonnieux

• A Pomerol made by Château Bon Pasteur

• A wonderful jewel of Saint-Emilion made by Château Faugères

• A rising star from Saint-Emilion made by Château Sansonnet

Château Carbonnieux is a Grand Cru Classé from Pessac-Léognan, formerly part of Graves, known for producing some of the finest white wines in Bordeaux. Château Carbonnieux is one of Bordeaux's oldest and largest wine estates, located on the Left Bank. The history of the Chateau dates back to the 12th century and celebrates almost eight centuries of how-know and winemaking tradition. The Carbonnieux Blanc is a brilliant expression of the estate’s expertise. This white wine has a complex character and is the perfect example of Pessac-Leognan. 

Château Le Bon Pasteur is a prestigious estate in Pomerol, known for its meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard and winery. The Château, originally established in the mid-20th century by the renowned winemaking duo Michel Rolland and his wife Dany, is located at the junction of the famous terroirs of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. This vineyard is a small but highly respected estate that produces wines that are rich, powerful, and full of character. Le Bon Pasteur 2018 is a Pomerol that embodies the opulence and complexity of the Château. The estate’s 6.6 hectares of vineyard are planted predominantly with Merlot, complemented by smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, on a terroir of gravel and clay soils that give the wines their signature depth and complexity. 

Château Faugères, a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion, is nestled in the rolling hills in the heart of the appellation. The château has a rich history of producing refined and structured wines, with a modern winery designed by famed architect Mario Botta. The estate’s true renaissance occurred in 2005 when Swiss entrepreneur and Bordeaux enthusiast Silvio Denz purchased the property. Denz, a well-known perfumer and art collector, saw immense potential and succeeded in raising the chateau among the top producers in Saint-Emilion. Today, Château Faugères is celebrated for producing wines that beautifully balance elegance, structure, and complexity, continuing to build on its legacy while embracing modern techniques to craft very good wines. The Faugères 2018 is a testament to the estate’s dedication to producing elegant and refined wines.

Château Sansonnet, also a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion, is a rising star in this appellation. This estate has a long history dating back to the 19th century. A significant transformation with a strong focus on quality, modern viticultural practices, and sustainable methods allowed recognition of the Château and elevated to Grand Cru Classé status in 2012. This estate is known for producing bold and concentrated wines from its prized location on the limestone plateau. The vineyard covers a single 7-hectare plot with a dominant 85% proportion of Merlot blended with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate’s rise to prominence in the past decade reflects the passion and dedication of its team, ensuring that Château Sansonnet remains a key player in the world of fine Bordeaux wines.

Château Carbonnieux Blanc 2020 : "Richer notes of honeyed pineapple, crushed lemon, tangerine, and white flowers all emerge from the 2020 Château Carbonnieux Blanc, a bright, juicy, vibrant white that has medium-bodied richness, good mid-palate concentration, and a great finish. It's another utterly classic Grave white that will evolve for at least a decade." - Jeb Dunnuck, (03/30/2023), Ratings: 93

Château Le Bon Pasteur 2018 : "Showing even better from bottle than barrel, the 2018 Château Le Bon Pasteur is a sexy, opulent beauty that just begs to be drunk. Gorgeous black and blue fruits, white truffle, green tobacco, flowery incense, and damp earth give way to a full-bodied, textured, luscious Pomerol with ripe, velvety tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Reminding me of the 2012,as well as a little of the 2009, this is a knockout 2018 to drink over the coming 20+ years." - Jeb Dunnuck, (03/16/2021), Ratings: 95+, Drink: 2021-2041

Château Faugères 2018 : "The 2018 Faugères is fabulous. Silky and nuanced, the 2018 is striking right out of the gate. As I noted previously, the 2018 marks a transition to a more finessed style that is hugely appealing. There is plenty of the richness Faugères fans expect, but, at the same time, the wine is so well balanced and harmonious. Hints of rose petal, lavender, spice and dark fruits linger on the memorable close. The 2018 is an undeniably sexy wine." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (03/31/2023), Ratings: 96

Château Sansonnet 2020 : "This 35+-year-old, 6.96-hectare vineyard is planted to 6,000 vines per hectare on thin clay and limestone soils atop the Saint-Émilion plateau, just across the road from Château Trotte Vieille. This 2020 blend is 95% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, aging for around 16 months in French oak barrels, 80% new." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, (05/20/2021), Ratings: 94-96, Drink: 2026-2045