Cantemerle 2014

I like the floral character, which highlights the aromas of currants and berries. Full body and a firm and tight center palate. Silky tannins and a savory and creamy-textured finish. A beautifully balanced red. Try in 2021, but it’s already gorgeous to taste.

The 2014 Cantemerle has a sweet and candied bouquet with crushed strawberry, cherry liqueur, orange zest and just a light touch of cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, moderate acidity, hints of pencil lead and black pepper with quite a solid finish that needs to develop more terroir expression and finesse. However, I feel that there is potential here. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2020 - 2035

The 2014 Cantemerle has a conservative, cedar and graphite-tinged bouquet that needs to develop more fruité. It is focused but just needs more intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin on the entry. Clean red berry fruit here with moderate weight, leading to a slightly chewy finish that will hopefully evolve more nuance and personality with time. To be honest, I was expecting a little more considering the vintage. Drink Date 2018-2028

The Château Cantemerle 2014 has a bright and slightly glossy bouquet with blackcherries and boysenberry fruit, hints of tobacco and gravel coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with quite "fat" tannin that lend this Cantemerle weight in the mouth, although I would have liked more precision and terroir-expression to surface on the finish. This is a "stocky" Cantemerle at the moment that just needs more sophistication. Drink: 2018 - 2028

This is a knockout. Excellent concentration of fruit and firm tannins. Very, very long. Fruity and intense. Same quality or better than 2010. Impressive.

A wine of notable precision, persistence and class, the 2014 Cantemerle is outstanding. Sweet tobacco, licorice, red cherry and dried savory herbs are some of the signatures. Medium in body and lively, the 2014 captures the best attributes of the year. This is a positively stellar showing.

Tasted blind. Rather simple primary fruit on the nose. Good balance and well-worked tannins on the palate but then a bit pinched on the end. Sour finish.
Drink 2024-2034

Blackish crimson. Very opulent and perfumed. Rather light and simple though certainly friendly in the short term. Tannins are a little underripe with some greenness. Certainly respectable even if not a standout. Drink 2019-2026

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. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby with a purple rim. Fresh cherries and plums on the nose, with a touch of florality and toasty new French oak. There is a crunchy core of cherries and red bramble fruits with a subtle toast on the finish from the new oak. Silky texture from fine tannins and a nice balance of fresh Cabernet fruit.

Bright and racy, with red currant and plum fruit lined with a lively tang of iron that streaks through the finish. A touch taut, but should unwind nicely with modest cellaring. Best from 2018 through 2024. 33,335 cases made.

The mix of black fruits on the nose is rich the start of the palate sweet. Firmer in the middle the tannins are quite obvious but there is sweetness at the back with more depth on the finish. 2022-30