Bernard Magrez has maintained ownership and direction of this Haut-Médoc 4th cru classé since 1999. He employs sensible cluster thinning, rigorous maintenance, and adequate pruning in his vineyard management to bring in lower quantities of concentrated, healthy fruit.
The estate is situated just to the west of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, where the soils have a mix of sand and gravel that offers great drainage for the vineyards and result in minerally complexity in the Cabernet and Merlot grapes.
La Tempérance, a third bottling from La Tour Carnet, has a composition similar to that of the grand wines—approximately 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot—and is a blend of slightly younger plots. A great expression of claret, La Tempérance can be enjoyed in its first three to four years, but it also ages gracefully.
