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Cantemerle 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Haut Médoc
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Cantemerle

Label

Tasting Notes

A young, slightly tannic, somewhat austere but well-made, finesse style of Médoc, the 2005 Cantemerle displays a dark ruby/purple color followed by notes of forest floor, underbrush, cedar wood, and raspberry and blackcurrant fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2030.

89
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

Wow. This really shows wonderful depth and complexity on the nose with blueberries, fresh flowers and hints of stones. It's full-bodied, with ultra-refined tannins and a long, long finish. Gets better and better with age: gorgeous now but will improve for many years to come. Excellent.

93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, July 2013

Quite transparent and aromatic. Soft and gentle- not overdone. Rather supple and silky. A good medium term drink. Drink 2016-22

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006

Good medium ruby . Reticent aromas of black cherry and licorice. Bright, tight and high-pitched, with very fresh flavors of dark fruits and flowers currently dominated by firm tannic spine. A bit youthfully tough and in need of at least several years of cellaring.

88+
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008

Ripe, concentrated small berry fruit, good depth of flavour and quite lifted and leafy, very Médoc, elegant with good intensity. Drink 2009-18.

16.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2006

Direct, intense nose of red berry fruits, ripe and alluring. Glorious, rich fruit notes concentrated yet light on its feet. Poised. Drink from 2014. Awarded 3 stars.

15.75
Decanter.com, Decanter.com, July 2008
Read more tasting notes...

Cantemerle’s new proprietors believe in producing delicate, beautifully wrought, finesse-styled wines that require some introspection. The deep ruby-hued 2005 displays aromas of licorice, roasted herbs, sweet cherries, and flowers. In the mouth, the wine seems almost light in comparison to its peers, but it possesses an ethereal seriousness, purity, and overall harmony that are striking for its delicacy and finesse. A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, it should be at its finest between 2012-2025+.

90
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

A property on the rebound, Cantemerle has fashioned a fragrant 2005 offering up scents of dried herbs, sweet red cherries, spring flowers, spice box, and blueberries. Moderately tannic, medium-bodied, and elegant with good structure, purity, and balance, this blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc should be at its finest between 2011-2022.

89/91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Cantemerle is finally emerging from the qualitative doldrums and 2005 is their finest vintage since 1989. Fashioned from yields of 44 hectoliters per hectare, this 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc blend exhibits a dense purple color as well as an elegant nose of blue fruits, spring flowers, and subtle mineral as well as spice notes. This pure, medium-bodied, finesse-styled, deep, layered, moderately tannic effort will be more approachable than its more muscular, structured peers. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2023.

89/91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006
90
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Crushed blackberries, tobacco and light vanilla aromas. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. Well done. This is as good or better than the 2000.

89/91
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.