Château Cantemerle Haut-Médoc 2020 - 5ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Like its neighbors in the Ludon-Macau sector, Cantemerle suffered from the inclement weather of 2017 and 2018, which temporarily halted its magnificent improvement in quality. All the more reason to rely on the previous vintages, which showcase the full finesse of which this vast 90-hectare terroir is capable. Prices remain affordable, and the wine is in fine form in 2019. The arrival of a new director, Laure Canu, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the estate.

Decanter

About the wine:

The nose is very fragrant, with ripe black fruits and fragrant flowers (Parma violets). Juicy and crisp, this wine has a pleasant body and texture, good acidity, and a juicy character with a delicate sweetness, balanced by fresh, minty blackcurrant. Without overdoing it, always with a certain freshness—blue fruits, berries, and black cherries with a crisp texture. Elegant, well-balanced. Nice weight. Everything is very well executed here. Well-structured, classic, and well-defined. Very easy to like. 2024–2035

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Intense and complex, with lovely notes of red fruit and vanilla, the bouquet is as elegant as the ruby-red color. Bold and supple on the palate, the wine then builds in intensity, developing a full-bodied, rich texture supported by fine, velvety tannins and a skillfully balanced oak influence.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Philippe Dambrine has recently handed over the reins to Laure Canu at the helm of this classic Médoc estate. While Cantemerle has always produced elegant, easy-drinking wines, those crafted over the past decade have gained added depth and definition, clearly establishing it as one of the best values in the entire Médoc. The work in the vineyard and the winemaking and blending choices made in recent years are paying off. Now is the time to enjoy them, especially since the aging potential is remarkable, as we have often seen.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Tasted from the barrel. This prestigious estate has produced a powerful, rich wine with excellent aging potential. Solid and well-balanced, with dense tannins that will gracefully integrate with the fruit, this wine should age beautifully.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of blackcurrant and kirsch with notes of dried blood orange, licorice, and cocoa. Medium-bodied to full-bodied with layers of well-integrated, finely polished tannins. Structured and lively with a fruity, fresh, and vibrant palate, seasoned with spices and dried herbs. A lingering, chalky finish. Delicious now, but even better after 2026.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

With delicate cocoa notes and rich dark fruit, the nose is exceptionally elegant. For his final vintage at the helm of Cantemerle, Philippe Dambrine has crafted a truly lovely wine—rich in mocha and creamy—built around a juicy palate, framed by refined tannins and meticulously controlled aging.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Deep purple. The bouquet is very inviting! It offers pleasant notes of cherries and blackcurrants, along with hints of graphite. On the palate, the wine is elegant and well-structured. Its tannins are dense but not overpowering, with a fine texture. Beautiful aromatic intensity that lingers through the finish. A fine achievement at Cantemerle! 2025–2040

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fresh, aromatic, toasty, and elegant, offering both delicacy and a certain depth. It features notes of fresh blackberry, vanilla, and, more subtly, strawberry, along with ripe and fresh red berries, combined with hints of toast, fresh and vibrant purple plum, sweet blond tobacco, as well as subtle hints of fresh hazelnut, and an imperceptible touch of graphite and pepper (in the background). The palate is fruity and fresh, offering minerality, good definition, juiciness, elegance, precision, a subtle tension, and a refined texture. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fresh, pulpy blackberry, raspberry, and a hint of vanilla, combined with touches of fresh, crisp cherry, fresh lily, racy, fresh gravel, toast, toasted almond, subtle hints of graphite, and a discreet hint of cubeb pepper. The tannins are precise and offer a certain firmness. Good length. Firmness on the finish/persistence. A slight chewiness on the finish.