Cantemerle 2016

The 2016 Cantemerle has a comparatively opulent bouquet of black cherries, boysenberry and light violet scents, touches of cedar and sous-bois emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. There is a touch of greenness here, although it does come across harmonious and there is a pleasing spiciness toward the finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. 2022 - 2045

Plenty of menthol, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas in this elegant, medium-weight Haut-Médoc that’s got as much freshness as ripeness and a long, clean, mineral and herbal finish. An incredibly food-flexible wine! Drink or hold.

Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cantemerle offers up warm plums, black cherries and mulberries with an earth and bay leaves undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied with just enough fruit and pleasantly chewy tannins, finishing with an herbal lift. 2019 - 2028

For me this is easily one of their best ever wines, totally living up to its fifth growth billing. Lovely and juicy with excellent tension, really walking that line. Menthol, cassis and cedar are framed by well-wrought tannins that bring the whole thing together and lead onto a juicy finish. The blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot is aged in 40% new oak for 12 months, followed by a further four months in vats before bottling.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2040

Tasted blind. Almost jammy it’s so rich on the nose! Very dry finish. A bit austere.
Drink 2024 – 2030

A popular Classed Growth Château from the southern Médoc, situated just below the village of Margaux, near to La Lagune. Cantemerle always provides reliable quality and value for money. The wines are never heavy or jammy. Good traditional claret that is usually sold at a modest price and with quality on the rise in recent vintages. Deep ruby in the class with a superbly fragrant, attractive nose of fresh blackcurrant, violets, roses and a little toast and vanilla too. The palate is smooth despite the level of tannin with superb levels of integration and freshness. Harmonious black and blue fruits are lifted by acidity and layered with toast and incense from high quality, integrate oak. The finish is long, pure and precise. This is a superb effort from the Chateau, and doubtless the best they have made since the outstanding 2010. Well worth a look for drinkers looking to add great value for money to their cellar from the 2016 vintage.

The 2016 Château Cantemerle is a solid effort, yielding ample mulberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with notions of tobacco, cedarwood, and spring flowers. It’s not a blockbuster but has a perfumed, complex, medium-bodied style that’s a joy to drink. Enjoy it over the coming 10-15 years. 2019 - 2034.

Rich fruit on the nose the palate has depth of flavour a mix of black fruits. The ripe sweet fruit is underpinned by freshness bright vibrant slightly lighter at the back the finish though has depth rich concentrated fruit. 2026-36

Lovers of good value claret should flock towards this lovely red blend in 2016. Fresh, sappy and grassy, it’s a wine that’s all about texture and fruit flavour rather than oak and tannin. Elegant, subtle and effortlessly complex. 2020-28