Château Cantemerle 2009 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Nobly spicy on the nose and with a particularly elegant texture in this sun-drenched vintage. Great potential.

About the estate:

Like its neighbors in the Ludon-Macau area, Cantemerle suffered from the adverse weather conditions of 2017 and 2018, which somewhat interrupted its remarkable qualitative progress. This only adds to the appeal of previous vintages, which showcase the full finesse of which this vast 90-hectare terroir is capable. Prices remain accessible, and the wine is in excellent form in 2019. The arrival of a new director, Laure Canu, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the estate.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

With its extensive vineyards (90 hectares) and grounds (28 hectares), this estate is anything but modest. Neither is its wine, for that matter. Its character first reveals itself through a bouquet with notes of cassis and sandalwood; then on the palate, where its roundness, richness, and velvety texture leave a lasting impression of a beautifully balanced wine, crowned by a long finish. A roast veal shoulder served with porcini mushrooms will allow it to express itself to the fullest.

About the estate:

Intense and complex with beautiful notes of red fruit and vanilla, the bouquet is as elegant as the ruby ​​color. Frank and supple on the attack, the palate then builds in power to develop an imposing and fleshy body, supported by fine, velvety tannins and expertly balanced oak.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Delicate yet powerful. Delicate thanks to its floral notes (violet, hawthorn, etc.) and even hints of leather; powerful thanks to its full-bodied, complex texture. The finish is slightly warm.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Readers looking for the elegant side of Bordeaux need look no further. With a dense ruby-violet (almost opaque) color, this wine offers notes of pencil shavings, spring flowers, raspberry, and black cherry. The wine is ethereal, medium-bodied, long-finishing, and sophisticated. The tannins are present, and it certainly has the potential to develop with age. Give it 3 to 4 years in the bottle and enjoy it over the next 25 years.

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

About the wine:

The 2009 vintage is more full-bodied than the 2010, less refined, but equally appealing.

About the estate:

Philippe Dambrine has just handed over the reins of this classic Médoc estate to Laure Canu. While Cantemerle has always produced elegant and approachable wines, those crafted over the past decade have added depth and definition, clearly positioning it as one of the best value wines in the entire Médoc. The work in the vineyard and the winemaking and blending choices made in recent years are paying off. It's a wine to take advantage of, especially given its remarkable aging potential, as we often observe.

Wine Enthusiast

James Suckling