Château Cantemerle 2002

Tasting Characteristics and Notes for Château Cantemerle 2002

Tasting Notes

Appearance
The colour reveals a beautiful red hue.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with fruity notes reminiscent of plum, accompanied by tangy touches of sweet-and-sour cherries.

Palate
On the palate, this wine shows a medium body structure. The texture comes across as angular, with a finish that leans towards a certain dryness, typical of this classic vintage.

Food Pairings

This red wine pairs perfectly with roasted red meats such as rib of beef or an herb-crusted roast. It also goes wonderfully with slow-cooked dishes such as beef daube, roasted poultry, leg of lamb, or starters featuring charcuterie and country-style terrines.

Serving and Cellaring

For an optimal tasting experience of this 2002 vintage, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for thirty minutes to an hour is advised to soften its structure. This wine was best enjoyed up until around 2010.

The Elegance of a Haut-Médoc Grand Cru Classé

The Estate

Located in the Bordeaux region, Château Cantemerle has very ancient origins dating back to the Middle Ages, with the first record of winegrowing on the estate documented in 1354. This historic property enjoyed its golden age under the Villeneuve-Durfort family, who worked to secure its classification as a Fifth Growth (Cinquième Grand Cru Classé) in 1855. Acquired in 1981 by the SMABTP group, now known as Groupe SMA, its current owner, the estate has been managed since 2021 by Laure Canu. The property stands out for its strong commitment to biodiversity.

The Vineyard

The terroir of this Haut-Médoc appellation wine extends across the communes of Macau and Ludon, in the southern part of the Médoc peninsula. The vines, covering approximately 94 hectares, are planted on soils of fine, deep gravel with a strong silica content. The estate places great importance on nature: of its 200 hectares, half are dedicated to preserved natural spaces. This rich ecosystem is home to a diverse range of fauna and flora, supported by ecological corridors and countryside hedgerows that promote sustainable viticulture.

The Vintage

The year 2002 was marked by rather cool and irregular weather conditions. The growing cycle began with difficult weather during spring and the early summer season. Fortunately, a milder late season allowed the berries to reach full ripeness, giving this vintage a very classic profile.

Winemaking and Ageing

To produce this wine, the grapes are hand-harvested before undergoing meticulous sorting through a subtractive selection process. The grapes from the different plots are then vinified separately in large wooden vats to encourage gentle extraction. Finally, the wine is aged in barrels for twelve months before being fined and bottled directly at the estate.

Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.