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Cantemerle 2021

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Haut Médoc
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

A popular classed growth château from the southern Médoc, situated just below the village of Margaux. Cantemerle always provides reliable quality and value for money. The wines are never heavy or jammy. Good traditional claret that is usually sold at a modest price and with quality on the rise in recent vintages. The vineyard is 96 hectares in size and planted with 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

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Label

Tasting Notes

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. Drink Date: 2025 - 2035

89
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, February 2024

The 2021 Cantemerle has a pleasant, cedar-inspired bouquet, the light black fruit gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and quite structured, revealing classic tobacco notes toward a finish of decent length. This will do fine as an early-drinking claret.

88/90
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2022

The 2021 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot with maturation in 40% new oak. Mid ruby colour. This is crunchy, cool and fresh with blackcurrant leaf, red berries and cedar. The palate is leafy and cool, full of savoury tones and bell pepper. There is a hint of toast, cedar and dried tobacco together with green tea. The fresh red fruit lingers with chalky tannins on the finish in this compact, cool wine that will appeal to classic claret lovers.

87/90
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2022

Savory, with mushrooms, bark and dried leaves. Some cocoa and walnut notes, too. Medium body with lightly chewy tannins. A little loose.

90/91
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2022

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Cantemerle has pronounced herbal notes with rubber and tobacco over a core of stewed red and black plums. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is a little thin with a chewy texture and a tart, abrupt finish.

80/82
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2022

Bright dark fruit, well constructed with fresh acidities and a leafy, rose stem aspect the emphasies the Caberrnet. There is juice on the finish here, but hard tannins also, and it needs further softening over ageing. Tasted twice. 50hl/h yield, generous for the vintage, 40% new oak.

87
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2022

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.
Pleasantly aromatic with cassis and dark-fruit notes. Juicy and fresh, if a little lean, the tannins well-handled. The oak, though, is rather present and drying (prise de bois?). If it settles, this could improve. (JL)
Drink 2025 – 2035

15.5
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2022
Read more tasting notes...

The 2021 Cantemerle is a very strong effort in a challenging year, offering up aromas of blackcurrants and plums mingled with hints of spice box, black truffle and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming, it's supple and succulent, with a generous core of fruit and a saline finish. It's sure to number among the sleepers of the vintage.

90/91
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (260), April 2022
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.