Château Cantemerle 2020

Even at this stage, it is strongly marked by the élevage; noticeable barrel notes lead to a somewhat dry finish.

Leads with an overt toasted vanilla note that drapes over a core of friendly cherry and plum fruit, mixed with a licorice accent. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2026. 30,000 cases made.

Lovely perfumed fragrance on the nose, ripe black fruits and scented flowers – Parma violets. Juicy and clean, this has lovely weight and texture, great acidity and juiciness with a delicate sweetness, but countered with cool, fresh, minty blackcurrants. Not trying too hard, still with some coolness – blue fruits, berries and black cherries with a clean texture. Sleek, well balanced. Lovely weight. Everything very well done here. Good drive, classic and well framed. Very easy to like.

Aromas of blackcurrants and kirsch with hints of dried blood orange, licorice and cocoa. Medium- to full-bodied with layers of well-integrated, finely polished tannins. Structured and toned with a fresh and lively fruit-forward palate, seasoned with spices and dried herbs. Lingering, chalky finish. Delicious now, but better after 2026.

Tasted blind. Very dark. Sweet and ripe, a bit like Ribena. Powerful, chewy and very primary in its fruit profile, with enough freshness, just needs time to mesh. (JH)

The 2020 Cantemerle comes across pretty much as it did from barrel. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum and sweet spice give this a good bit of exuberance. I don’t mind the very ripe style so much, but it’s the lack of mid-palate and finish that is more problematic.

Flowers, spice, black cherries, bitter chocolate, and a background note of espresso crowd into the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, and savory, with a core of sweet, ripe red fruits and touches of citrus and menthol that come in on the herbal-edged endnote. Drink from 2025-2043.

Dark ruby garnet colour, purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Inviting nuances of liquorice, black forest berries, attractive bouquet, subtle hints of sea buckthorn and candied violets. Juicy, elegant, fine acidity, ripe tannins, a well-developed food wine, remains persistent, has further ageing potential. (25/1, PM).

Ripe nose offering darker fruit, bay leaf, mild oak and toast, fine extract with a tannic freshness, classic dense fruit and a long pure finish.

I continue to love the wines from Cantemerle, which is located in the Haut-Médoc. The 2020 Château Cantemerle is deeply hued with lots of Bing cherry, tobacco, and cedary notes that flow to a medium-bodied, elegant yet concentrated 2020 with fine tannins and a great finish. Another classic vintage from this estate, this beauty is going to evolve for 15+ years if well-stored.

Intense blueberry bouquet with blackberry jelly, rock candy, and a delicate hint of lilac. On the generous palate, soft texture, fine-grained extract, lively backbone, and medium body. Focused, finely aromatic finish with wild cherry, light graphite, and Brazilian tobacco. Top performance! At under €30, it once again ranks among our Best-Buy recommendations. BUY!

Kunz barrel sample 2021: fruity, sweet, light bouquet, red and blue berries, toasted notes, vanilla. Slender, bourgeois palate with little fine, sandy tannin, pronounced acidity, light aromatics, light finish.

Fruity, sweet, light bouquet, red and blue berries, roasted notes, vanilla. Slim, bourgeois palate with little fine, silky tannin, pronounced acidity, light aromatics, light finish. 16/20 2025 - 2036

Cocoa bean, espresso, pencil shavings, hedgerow, violets and ripe brambled fruits. This captures the understated finesse and joy of Cantemerle, a wine to share, with expansion and depth through the mid-palate that become ever clearer with the more recent vintages, showcasing how Cantemerle is growing in confidence. Last vintage with Pascal Berteau as technical director, in place since 1987, and Philippe Dambrine in his last vintage as estate director, 40% new oak for ageing.

The 2020 Cantemerle is deep garnet-purple in color. It features notes of cassis and black raspberries, with suggestions of tobacco, wild sage, and fragrant soil. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers cedar-laced black and red berry flavors, with a light chewiness to the texture and a refreshing, minerally finish.

An beguiling nose, constantly evolving, offering aromas that change from one moment to the next: deep, ripe fruit, acacia bark, woodland scents—nothing but pure, authentic aromas. Fresh and harmonious on the palate, with a fine concentration of perfectly ripe fruit and elegant tannins.

Purple with violet hues. What an inviting bouquet! It shows appealing notes of cherries and blackcurrant, along with hints of graphite. On the palate, the wine is elegant and compact. The tannins are dense but not overpowering, with a fine grain. Lovely aromatic intensity through to the finish. A fine success at Cantemerle!

While the nose is attractive, the palate is built around an acidic balance that doesn’t suit it well, falling well short of its potential.

Delicately cocoa-tinged aromas, deep black fruit, the nose is highly elegant. For his final vintage at the helm of Cantemerle, Philippe Dambrine delivers a very lovely wine, very mocha in style, creamy, built around a juicy palate framed by polished tannins and impeccably controlled ageing.

94–96. Barrel Sample. This fine estate has produced a powerful, rich wine that has fine potential. Solid, foursquare with dense tannins that will gracefully meld into the fruit, the wine should age well.