Château Cantemerle 2022

Seductive as so often, a hint of vanilla, blackcurrant, blond tobacco; balanced on the palate, wonderfully approachable, you want to swallow, juicy, fruity, with fine tannins and a long finish. It will be enjoyable early.

Warmed plum sauce and blackberry compote notes move slowly, while roasted cedar, tobacco and tar fill in. The toasty finish shows polish and focus. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 16,666 cases made.

Delicately fragrant, with purple flowers, berry fruit and touches of exotic spices. Sleek and svelte on the palate, this has a calm confidence about it, the flavours driving in one line from start to finish. I love the chalky texture and the purity of fruit. Gentle, not pushed too hard, with plenty of easy enjoyment to be had. Fresh, cool and moreish. Really overdelivers for its price.

The 2022 Cantemerle has a glossy, generous bouquet, a mixture of blackberry and blueberry fruit, with touches of violet that lend it a Margaux-like allure. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet core of fruit, quite plush and softish, blueberry and cassis fruit with a little smudge on the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Currants, black cherries, flowers, mocha, and spearmint aromas open the wine. On the palate, the wine is supple, refined, elegant, and creamy. The fruits are soft, sweet, and fresh, leaving you with supple-textured, sweet cherries and spicy freshness on the finish. Drink from 2026-2045. 92-94 pts.

I always love the wine from this château and the 2022 Château Cantemerle is no exception, offering textbook Bordeaux notes of darker currants, leafy tobacco, cedarwood, and loamy earth. These carry to a medium-bodied, balanced, incredibly charming wine that has fine tannins, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It's going to round into form with 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 10-15 years thereafter. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Powerful with depth, juice and precision, plenty of volume through the mid-palate, and the tannins are velvety, laced with cocoa bean, sweet damson, cumin, balsamic, white pepper, rose petals, graphite, sandalwood, great quality. Laure Canu estate director, Eric Boissenot consultant, 40% new oak for ageing.

A sparkling nose with penetrating aromas of perfectly ripe fruit. On the palate, this is a very beautiful wine, tender and caressing, carried by delicately nuanced florality. The finish gains substance thanks to serious tannins.

A great deal of finesse and detail in the bouquet of this Cantemerle, with nuances of blueberry and blackcurrant complemented by hints of licorice and sweet spices. On the palate, the wine impresses with its silky, elegant, and compact character. It shows measured, efficient power that ensures structure and persistence. An elegant, sapid wine that can certainly be approached in its youth, yet also offers good cellaring potential.

Dark color with purple highlights. Aromatic nose, fruity, pure and ripe. With its delicate feel and upright bearing, this cru adds an unprecedented fleshiness in 2022. Normal length with enveloped tannins. Blend: 70% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 5% cabernet franc, 5% petit verdot. Alcohol: 13.5%. Yield: 29 hl/ha.

Graphite over dark fruit, a ashy touch, maritime pine—this is fine craftsmanship. The palate is elegantly sculpted, the precisely picked fruit set with eucalyptus notes, all escorted by fine-grained tannins and supported by invigorating freshness. Cantemerle continues its climb toward the front of the pack—it’s a beautiful sight.

93-95 Barrel sample. Very close to Margaux, this classed growth estate has produced a dense, rich wine. Its berry flavors are working well with the tannins and core of wood aging to give a solid wine.