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 vintages from previous years, which showcase the full finesse of which this vast 90-hectare terroir is capable. Prices remain affordable, and the 2019 vintage is in fine form. 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, great acidity, and a juicy character with a delicate sweetness, balanced by fresh, minty blackcurrant. Without being overpowering, it always retains a certain freshness—blue fruits, berries, and black cherries with a crisp texture. Elegant and well-balanced. Nice body. Everything is executed very well here. Well-structured, classic, and well-defined. Very easy to enjoy. 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 color. Bold and supple on the attack, the palate then builds in intensity to reveal an imposing, full-bodied structure, supported by fine, velvety tannins and skillfully balanced oak.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

Philippe Dambrine has just 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 or so offer added depth and definition, clearly positioning it as one of the best values in the entire Médoc. The work in the vineyard and the winemaking and blending decisions made in recent years are paying off. Now is the time to enjoy these wines, especially since their aging potential is remarkable, as we’ve often seen.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Tasting from the barrels. This great estate has produced a powerful, rich wine with excellent aging potential. Solid and well-balanced, with dense tannins that will blend gracefully 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 invigorating with a fruity, fresh, and lively palate, accented 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 the depth of dark fruit, the nose is very elegant. For his final vintage at the helm of Cantemerle, Philippe Dambrine has crafted a lovely wine—rich in mocha notes and creamy—built around a juicy palate, framed by refined tannins and expertly managed aging.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Purplish-red. What an inviting bouquet! It displays 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 power. It features notes of fresh blackberry, vanilla, and, more subtly, strawberry and ripe/fresh red berries, combined with hints of toast, fresh/vibrant purple plum, sweet blond tobacco, as well as subtle hints of fresh hazelnut, an imperceptible hint of graphite, and pepper (in the background). On the palate, it is fruity and fresh, offering minerality, good definition, juiciness, elegance, precision, subtle tension, and a refined texture. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fresh, pulpy blackberry, raspberry, and, more subtly, vanilla, combined with hints of fresh, crisp cherry, fresh lily, racy, fresh gravel, toasty notes, 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 and in the aftertaste. A slight chewiness on the finish.