Château Cantemerle
Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend
Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Out of jero ! More fruit and softness of tannins than expected. Crowd pleaser
Out of jero ! More fruit and softness of tannins than expected. Crowd pleaser
Nov 3rd, 20242022 vintage. Cantemerle is always about elegance, and this exceptional vintage is no exception. Cassis, blackberries, subtle floral hints, and very delicate oak. Exemplary purity of fruit, velvety tannins and serious length. Hard to resist young, but this should age effortlessly for a few decades. The best Cantemerle I have ever tasted, and incredible value too. Abv. 13,5%.
2022 vintage. Cantemerle is always about elegance, and this exceptional vintage is no exception. Cassis, blackberries, subtle floral hints, and very delicate oak. Exemplary purity of fruit, velvety tannins and serious length. Hard to resist young, but this should age effortlessly for a few decades. The best Cantemerle I have ever tasted, and incredible value too. Abv. 13,5%.
Nov 1st, 2024Cigar box, lovely fruit, still showing beautiful. Amazing find.
Cigar box, lovely fruit, still showing beautiful. Amazing find.
Oct 16th, 20242004 vintage. Tasted at the Château. A very nice surprise. Cantemerle stands for elegance and balance, and this is no exception.
2004 vintage. Tasted at the Château. A very nice surprise. Cantemerle stands for elegance and balance, and this is no exception.
Jun 18th, 20242009 vintage. Patience! This needs a few hours to open up and show its true potential. Cassis, cedar wood, and flowers. Better the next day.
2009 vintage. Patience! This needs a few hours to open up and show its true potential. Cassis, cedar wood, and flowers. Better the next day.
Apr 15th, 2024
92-93 for me.
Consumed half bottle at pop, then corked for another 4hrs before consuming the rest. No change.
What a beautifully elegant and refined ‘09. The highest compliment I can give this is that it was a simplistic joy. Some wines make it easy to get nerdy and command your attention…some wines are underwhelming and not worth your time. This was squarely in the middle. It was a joy to not feel the need to overthink…it’s exactly what it should be. No bricking at almost 15yrs. Decidedly black fruit heavy (black currant, cassis, underripe blackberries) with a sprinkling of raspberries and black cherries. Aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, dark florals. Integrated on the palate with good structure and acidity…not a massive wine, but it put on a bit of weight/length the longer it was open. Still sporting a fair bit of tannin at the finish, but it’s balanced. Drink or hold.
92-93 for me.
Consumed half bottle at pop, then corked for another 4hrs before consuming the rest. No change.
What a beautifully elegant and refined ‘09. The highest compliment I can give this is that it was a simplistic joy. Some wines make it easy to get nerdy and command your attention…some wines are underwhelming and not worth your time. This was squarely in the middle. It was a joy to not feel the need to overthink…it’s exactly what it should be. No bricking at almost 15yrs. Decidedly black fruit heavy (black currant, cassis, underripe blackberries) with a sprinkling of raspberries and black cherries. Aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, dark florals. Integrated on the palate with good structure and acidity…not a massive wine, but it put on a bit of weight/length the longer it was open. Still sporting a fair bit of tannin at the finish, but it’s balanced. Drink or hold.
Wonderful. Classic Bordeaux. A little green pepper and cigar box.
Wonderful. Classic Bordeaux. A little green pepper and cigar box.
Mar 1st, 2024
I remember tasting this en premieur in 2011 it almost seemed lush and fruit driven back then (which is a complete 180 if you know this chateau) now 13 years it’s true to form, bretty, austere and tannic. By no means do I dislike it but I was expecting something different based on what I tasted a decade ago. With that said, it is typical cantemerle with lots of green notes .
I remember tasting this en premieur in 2011 it almost seemed lush and fruit driven back then (which is a complete 180 if you know this chateau) now 13 years it’s true to form, bretty, austere and tannic. By no means do I dislike it but I was expecting something different based on what I tasted a decade ago. With that said, it is typical cantemerle with lots of green notes .
Feb 10th, 20242020 vintage. General manager Laure Canu states that Cantemerle has never followed trends and will always be a wine of elegance, never showy. And that is exactly what it is. After 15 minutes in the glass, it displays bright cassis fruit, mixed with flowers and cedar wood. Medium-bodied, fresh, and elegant, with more complexity and more refined tannins, compared to the 2018. Very good length too.This is the finest Cantemerle I have ever tasted. Incredible value too. Abv. 13,5 %.
2020 vintage. General manager Laure Canu states that Cantemerle has never followed trends and will always be a wine of elegance, never showy. And that is exactly what it is. After 15 minutes in the glass, it displays bright cassis fruit, mixed with flowers and cedar wood. Medium-bodied, fresh, and elegant, with more complexity and more refined tannins, compared to the 2018. Very good length too.This is the finest Cantemerle I have ever tasted. Incredible value too. Abv. 13,5 %.
Oct 11th, 2023
Pretty, effusive and in a great spot now for early drinking - but this will go some way yet! The nose is very Médoc and almost Pauillac-like, with very pure aromatics and a prominent iron/graphite streak. The wine itself is medium to full-bodied, bright and vibrant, slightly zesty if not hugely concentrated, but well balanced and features a refreshing finish.
Pretty, effusive and in a great spot now for early drinking - but this will go some way yet! The nose is very Médoc and almost Pauillac-like, with very pure aromatics and a prominent iron/graphite streak. The wine itself is medium to full-bodied, bright and vibrant, slightly zesty if not hugely concentrated, but well balanced and features a refreshing finish.
May 25th, 2023