Château Carlmagnus 2016

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Château Carlmagnus 2016

Tasting

Color

With its deep garnet-red hue highlighted by purple and mauve reflections, this wine reflects both fruit concentration and youth.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic intensity dominated by black fruit notes (black cherry, blackberry, plum), enhanced by hints of cedar. Aromas of vanilla and spice blend harmoniously with the fruit, accompanied by subtle touches of tobacco and leather that add complexity to the whole.

Palate

The attack is smooth and rounded before evolving toward a richer, more concentrated structure. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with a velvety texture and perfectly integrated, silky tannins. The finish lingers at length, allowing black fruits, spices and oak notes to shine through in a warm, persistent aftertaste.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Château Carlmagnus 2016 is an ideal match for grilled or roasted red meats, notably entrecôte bordelaise or rib steak. It also pairs perfectly with duck breast with cherries, feathered game dishes, as well as mushroom- and truffle-based recipes. For cheese, opt for aged pressed cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.

Serving and Cellaring

Château Carlmagnus 2016 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for about one hour before serving will allow its aromas to fully open up. This wine can be enjoyed through around 2026.

A concentrated and elegant Fronsac

The estate

Founded in 1953, Château Carlmagnus is a 4.6-hectare estate located in Fronsac, on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, on a clay-limestone terroir that includes the historic Tertre linked to Charlemagne. The current owner, Arnaud Roux-Oulié, a representative of the Roux-Oulié family, has run the estate since 1998, embodying the third generation. The vineyard, planted 100% to Merlot, favors gentle extractions, indigenous yeasts, and aging in 50% new barrels. Its originality also lies in the dialogue between wine and art, with paintings adorning the residence and the cellars.

The vineyard

Château Carlmagnus’s vineyard stretches across clay-limestone plateaus and chalky soils characteristic of the Fronsac appellation. This distinctive geology, naturally well-draining, gives the wine its mineral structure and distinctive character. The vines benefit from a continental climate tempered by the proximity of the Isle and Dordogne rivers, encouraging slow, even ripening of the Merlot.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage in Bordeaux stood out for its contrasting weather conditions. After a very rainy spring, the summer proved exceptionally hot and dry from late June to mid-September, with temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C and only seven millimeters of rainfall. A welcome rain in early September allowed final ripening before harvest under ideal conditions, with cool nights and warm, dry days, producing grapes of remarkable concentration and balance.

Vinification and aging

Château Carlmagnus 2016 was aged in French oak barrels for twelve to fifteen months, with a proportion of 30 to 40% new oak. This aging method allows oak notes to integrate harmoniously while preserving the expression of the fruit and the terroir.

Grape variety

Merlot (100%).