Château Cantemerle 5éme Cru Classe, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2016

Viticulture

The winery and vineyards are situated near the villages of Macau and Ludon in the southern half of the Médoc peninsula and is arguably one of the most historic properties in the area, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. Classified as 5éme Cru Classe, Cantemerle’s name was almost omitted but thanks to the insistence of the then owner Caroline de Villeneuve Durfort, made the cut. Now this winery is one of the larger Médoc estates having had some considerable investment in the last 50 years, and now has 108ha under vine.

Winemaking

The bunches are destemmed and sorted by hand, then fermented for 6 to 8 days at 26 to 28 degrees C in a variety of different sized oak casks, stainless steel vats and cement tanks. The wine is then matured in medium-toast French oak barrels (40% new) for 12 months. Bottled lightly fined and unfiltered.

Tasting Note

Swirling this wine in the glass brings forth a very complex bouquet, the hallmark of a great wine. In the mouth, the first impression is both powerful and elegant, with rich flavours covering the palate. All the usual aromas of this wine—tobacco, black currant, cloves and a woodiness typical of ripe Cabernet—are present in a subtle register which will become more prominent with time. The tannins are very supple, lingering elegantly on the finish. At this stage of its development the wine is characterized by a delicate charm. This promising wine offers a typical illustration of the Cantemerle terroir. Very classic, it calls for some time in a decanter before serving. A further two or three years in the cellar can bring out its lovely personality, but it will continue to improve for an even longer time thanks to the nature of the great 2016 vintage.

Food Matching

An excellent match for earthy flavours such as root veg or mushrooms, and stands up well with beef stews, pheasant and game.