Château Cantemerle 1999

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Château Cantemerle 1999

Tasting Notes

Appearance
The colour reveals a garnet hue with tawny reflections, while retaining a lovely depth at its core, a testament to this wine's maturity.

Nose
The bouquet is complex and evolved. It opens with aromas of well-ripened black fruits such as blackcurrant and blackberry, enhanced by herbaceous notes reminiscent of thyme and bay leaf. Over time, subtle tertiary notes of leather, blond tobacco and truffle add further depth to the ensemble.

Palate
On the palate, this wine offers a harmonious and elegant structure, supported by fine-grained tannins and a still-lively acidity. The balance is remarkable, leading to a persistent and graceful finish.

Food and Wine Pairings

This red wine pairs beautifully with classic dishes such as roasted rib of beef, tournedos Rossini or wild boar stew. It also complements poultry in mushroom sauce, as well as Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes, such as lamb tagine with prunes or roast duck.

Serving and Cellaring

Boasting excellent ageing potential, this Château Cantemerle 1999 has reached a superb plateau of maturity and can be enjoyed right now.

A Full-Bodied and Refined Haut-Médoc Wine

The Estate

Located in Macau, France, in the Bordeaux region, Château Cantemerle boasts very ancient origins, with a vineyard whose creation dates back to around 1350. Recognised as a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Classification, this historic estate stands out for its vast wooded park and rich biodiversity. Acquired in 1981 by the insurance group SMA, its current owner, the estate has undergone a true renaissance. Now managed by Laure Canu, Château Cantemerle embodies the perfect blend of tradition, environmental respect and modernity.

The Vineyard

This Haut-Médoc wine comes from an extensive vineyard of around 95 hectares, planted on deep, siliceous gravel terroirs composed of pebbles and sand. These soils provide excellent drainage and release heat overnight, promoting full ripening of the grapes. The vines, with an average age of 35 years, are cultivated with great attention to the surrounding biodiversity. The harvest is carried out by hand, accompanied by rigorous sorting directly in the vineyard.

The Vintage

1999 is recognised as a good vintage in the Bordeaux region. Weather conditions provided an overall balanced growing season, allowing the berries to reach satisfactory phenolic ripeness. Despite some rainy spells during harvest, the climate favoured healthy grapes, though careful selection was required during picking to ensure optimal quality.

Winemaking and Ageing

To craft this Château Cantemerle 1999, the berries undergo precise plot-by-plot vinification in wooden, concrete and stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in vat. Finally, the wine benefits from careful ageing lasting 12 to 16 months in French oak barrels, with the proportion of new oak ranging between 40 and 50%.

Grape Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon (68%)
Merlot (22%)
Cabernet Franc (5%)
Petit Verdot (5%)