Tour Carnet

History of Château La Tour Carnet

The history of Château La Tour Carnet dates back to 1120, when a medieval fortress was erected on the site. The château, then called Château de Saint-Laurent, played a strategic role for centuries. In the 14th century, during the Hundred Years' War, it became English property under the House of Foix, marking British influence on the French Atlantic coast.

One of the most significant episodes in its history took place in the 15th century, when Jean de Foix, loyal to the English crown, offered the estate to his devoted squire, Carnet. In tribute to his exploits, the estate then took the name of Château La Tour Carnet, a name it has kept to this day.

Through the centuries, many prestigious families succeeded one another at the head of the estate, notably that of Michel de Montaigne, famous author of the "Essays" and mayor of Bordeaux. It was under the aegis of the Swedish family de Leutken, in the 18th century, that the château experienced its golden age, with its classification as a Fourth Classified Growth in 1855.

In 1999, Bernard Magrez, already owner of Château Pape Clément, acquired La Tour Carnet. With the help of renowned oenologist Michel Rolland, he began extensive restoration work to restore the estate to its former glory. Under the current technical direction of Frédéric Chabaneau, the Château has undergone a spectacular modernisation while preserving its historical heritage.

Terroirs and Vines of Château La Tour Carnet

Château La Tour Carnet spans 190 hectares on the left bank, making it one of the largest classified growths in the Médoc. Located east of Saint-Laurent-Médoc, the vineyard benefits from a mosaic of diverse soils, composed of clay, limestone and Garonne and Pyrenean gravels, on a limestone subsoil. This soil diversity is one of the estate's major assets, allowing for the production of complex and balanced wines.

The estate pays particular attention to the selection of its grape varieties to optimise the match with each plot. The vineyard is planted predominantly with Merlot (56%), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%). This increasing proportion of Merlot, introduced under Bernard Magrez's impetus, gives Château La Tour Carnet wines a remarkable roundness and aromatic richness.

For its white wine, the estate created a small 2-hectare plot in 2008, planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle. Although these grape varieties are not authorised in the Haut-Médoc appellation, Château La Tour Carnet produces a generic Bordeaux white wine, acclaimed for its freshness and elegance.

In 2015, as part of its efforts to combat the effects of climate change, Bernard Magrez planted a unique collection of 75 different grape varieties at the Château. This research project contributes to the study of the impact of global warming on grape maturity, thus ensuring the estate's viticultural future.

Winemaking at Château La Tour Carnet

The winemaking process at Château La Tour Carnet combines traditional techniques and modern innovations, ensuring high-quality wines that are true to the identity of the terroir. Each step is carried out with meticulous precision to extract the best from the grapes.

The harvest is done manually with a first sorting in the vineyard. Once sorted, the grapes are cooled using a cryogenic tunnel with liquid nitrogen to preserve freshness and aromas. The grapes are transferred to vats by gravity, thus minimising oxidation. Fermentations take place in small capacity wooden and cement vats, with entirely manual punching down and temperatures strictly controlled at 28°C.

For red wine, maceration lasts between 25 and 32 days, allowing for maximum extraction of colour, tannins and aromas. Barrel ageing lasts 16 months, with 30% new oak, to refine the tannins and develop subtle woody aromas.

As for the white wine, after gentle pressing of whole bunches, alcoholic fermentation takes place at low temperature (15-18°C) to preserve fruity aromas. Ageing on fine lees for 8 to 10 months with regular stirring gives the wine an unctuous texture and unique aromatic complexity.

The Wines of Château La Tour Carnet

Château La Tour Carnet offers several exceptional wines, each reflecting the expertise and unique terroir of the estate.

Château La Tour Carnet Red - Haut-Médoc Grand Cru Classé 1855

This flagship wine of the estate is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is powerful, fleshy, with imposing but elegant tannins. The 2015 and 2016 vintages are particularly renowned for their aromatic richness, structure and ageing potential.

Château La Tour Carnet White - Haut-Médoc

Composed of 60% Sémillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc, this exceptional white wine offers beautiful freshness and great finesse. Carefully vinified and aged, it reveals floral and citrus notes, enhanced by ageing on fine lees.

La Mémoire de La Tour Carnet

Made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, this wine is vinified with particular attention to flavour balance. It is distinguished by its concentration, depth and length on the palate, offering a memorable tasting experience.

Servitude Volontaire

A special 100% Merlot cuvée, from vines located in the north-eastern part of the Médoc, this limited production of 500 cases is sold exclusively in Bernard Magrez's shops. The wine is particularly rich, velvety and expressive.

Les Douves de Carnet

The estate's second wine, Les Douves de Carnet, is produced with the same attention as the first wine, but is designed to be enjoyed younger, offering a more accessible approach to the estate's wines.

La Tour Carnet Cuvée La Bravoure

This cuvée is produced from vines located outside the Haut-Médoc appellation and sold under the generic Bordeaux appellation. It is distinguished by its deliciousness and balance.

Haut-Médoc, one of the prestigious appellations of the Bordeaux vineyard, is renowned for producing remarkable wines, particularly during its finest vintages. Among the most notable are emblematic years such as 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990, which have left their mark on fine wine enthusiasts. Other exceptional vintages include 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, each recognised for its balance and depth. More recently, the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 continue this tradition, with particularly elegant and promising wines. These vintages offer an exceptional range of flavours and longevity, reinforcing Bordeaux's reputation as a global reference in wine-making.

Discover the full range of Fourth Classified Growths from Bordeaux, each one representing the richness of the Médoc's prestigious terroirs. In Saint-Julien, explore the wines of Château Beychevelle, Château Branaire-Ducru, and Château Talbot. In Pauillac, Château Duhart-Milon offers wines with the typical character of the appellation, while Château Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe provides robust vintages. In the Haut-Médoc, Château La Tour Carnet stands out, while Margaux's reputation is upheld by estates such as Château Marquis de Terme, Château Pouget, Château Prieuré-Lichine, and Château Saint-Pierre. Each of these estates reflects, in its own way, the unique identity of the Fourth Growths.

Château La Tour Carnet is much more than a wine estate; it is a true historical monument of the Médoc, driven by a tradition of excellence that spans centuries. Under the visionary direction of Bernard Magrez, the estate has managed to combine modernity and tradition to produce high-quality wines recognised throughout the world. With exceptional terroirs, precise winemaking and emblematic cuvées, Château La Tour Carnet is a must for Bordeaux wine enthusiasts, offering unforgettable tasting experiences.