HALVES
"Neal Martin 90/100
The 2016 Caronne Sainte Gemme is raised for 12 months in 25% new oak. It has a generous raspberry and blackberry scented bouquet with just a touch of cigar box, though I would have liked more personality expressed. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. There is commendable depth here, the acidity well judged and it sports excellent purity and length on the finish. There is a tender quality about this Caronne Sainte Gemme underneath that more obvious power. Tasted at the Oenoconseil tasting room in Bordeaux. Vinous.com The Cepage in 2016 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot & 10% Petit Verdot"
Château Caronne-Sainte-Gemme, situated on the confines of Saint Laurent de Médoc, borders the Saint-Julien appellation. Described by Tom Stevenson as 'a superb island of vines on a gravel plateau south of St Julien estates' Château Caronne Ste Gemme takes pride in its deep gravel mounds of the günzien period which lie on a subsoil of iron rich sandstone to the east and clay to the west. Neighbouring Chateau include Gruaud Larose, Lagrange and Lanessan. The vineyards are planted 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 37% Merlot, with an average age of 25 years old.
In 1900 ownership of Caronne passed to Emile and Eugène Borie. The sons of Eugène would later cede their shares to their uncle and purchase Ch. Batailley and later Ducru-Beaucaillou while Emile's descendents would remain the sole owners of Caronne until this day. The property is now managed by Jean, grandson of Emile and François, his nephew. The wines of Caronne, even in lighter years, are tannic, highly coloured and aromatic and they age remarkably well.
Château Caronne was classified a 'Cru Bourgeois Supérieur' in 1932 and a 'Cru Grand Bourgeois Exceptionnel' in the Syndicate’s Honors’ List in 1966.
