Château Cantemerle 2021

On the nose: tobacco, herbs, dark fruit and a hint of vanilla. Juicy, fresh attack, fine-grained tannins, crisp fruit, harmonious with good persistence. Not big, but already wonderful to drink young.

An old-school version, with a cedary thread running from start to finish, along with savory tobacco leaf and dried currant accents. A touch austere on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2033. 25,000 cases made.

Strongly perfumed, smells strongly of Petit Verdot. Quite high acidity, sharp and tangy straight away, prominent acidity which is mouthwatering, then settles and turns a bit creamy and chalky towards the finish. Ends a little bit bitter. Calm, not shouting, and missing a bit more push and sense of juiciness, a little serious right now but this should round out nicely and provide lots of short-to-mid-term drinking pleasure.

The 2021 Cantemerle typifies your “classic” Bordeaux. It has a light but delineated nose of black fruit laced with cedar and freshly rolled tobacco. The palate is balanced, with a little chewiness on entry. There’s some mid-palate weight, but then it dramatically tapers away and leaves you wondering if it could have given more. There’s also a slightly herbaceous aftertaste.

Light, bright, crisp, classic, and racy, this medium-bodied, edgy, firm red-cherry and raspberry wine is packed with herbs, flowers, peppery spices, cedar, and tobacco. This is a firm, crunchy, old-school wine that blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026–2041.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, subtle ochre rim. Nuances of sour cherries, red forest berries, delicate herbal savouriness, subtle bouquet. Lean, red-berry, subtle acidity, somewhat broad-meshed, offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure. (25/1, PM).

The 2021 Château Cantemerle checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest 5% Petit Verdot that was raised for 12 months in French oak (40% new). It's a juicy, medium-bodied, more red-fruited effort that has some classic tobacco and underbrush notes, juicy yet integrated acidity, fine tannins, and a good finish. It's a satisfying, enjoyable, well-made Haut-Médoc that will drink nicely for a decade if well stored.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 50 hl/ha, 13% alc./vol., production 300,000 bottles) Green, herbal bouquet, red cherries, wood. Slim, light palate with delicate fruit, angular structure, sandy tannins, restrained aromatics, bitter finish.

(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 50 hl/ha, 13% abv, production 300,000 bottles) Green, austere bouquet, red cherries, wood. Slender, light palate with delicate fruit, angular structure, sandy tannins, restrained aromatics, austere finish. 16/20 2027 - 2038

The 2021 Cantemerle has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It flies out of the glass with notes of juicy raspberries and Morello cherries, leading to wafts of cinnamon and roses. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and refreshing, with minerally sparks to the red berry flavors and a soft-textured finish.

In the style that has made it so successful, this Cantemerle 2021 is delicious, driven by red-fruit notes, plenty of delicacy, and impressive persistence. This consistently affordable wine is a great deal not to be missed.

A clear, welcoming nose of red fruits with sappy florality. Delicate on the palate, as fine as Chantilly lace, with crunchy, juicy fruit.

Cantemerle’s oak is quite pronounced, but the bouquet also reveals notes of black berries and mint after a little aeration. On the palate, a pleasant sweetness lends an inviting character, while the tannins provide a solid backbone.

Dark colour of medium intensity, slightly evolved. A somewhat discreet nose with fresh fruit, more floral than at times. Delicate on the attack, silky on the mid-palate, with a slender body; the wine melts across the palate with flavour. Medium length. One of the rare Haut Médoc classified growths whose score has improved since en primeur.

Waves of brambled fruits and soft spices, cumin, rosebud and tomato leaf; not huge concentration here but mouthwatering and delicate. 50 hl/ha yield, generous for the vintage, 40% new oak. Director Laure Canu’s first vintage, coming over from Château Angélus and working alongside Philippe Dambrine for the first few months. 37 hl/ha yield after frost.

This wine comes from one of the first of the grand estates when driving north up the Médoc. The wine brings out the brightness of the vintage as well as its structure and potential for aging. This is balanced, fruit and tannins allied with succulent acidity. Drink from 2027.

The 2021 Cantemerle opens in the glass with notes of cassis, dark berries, mint and baking chocolate. This is medium-bodied, with supple, powdery tannins, lively acids and a delicate core of fruit, concluding with a minty, somewhat herbaceous finish.