Château Cantemerle, 5eme Cru Classé, Haut Medoc, 2009
This is frequently one of our value picks. Cantemerle lies just to the south of Macau and enjoys a fine terroir, which in turn produces refined, delicate wines not that dissimilar to Margaux to the north. A tight knit bouquet, with brooding dark fruit overlaid with high toned berries and floral notes; very pretty. The palate offers plenty of depth with bright cherries, spice, and a wonderfully seductive texture of dark, deep, black velvet. The tannins are well rounded, ripe and one is left with a precise, pure fruit finish.
critic reviews
This was the first wine of the 2009/2010 retrospective, kicking off two days of tasting, and it immediately set the bar for the quality of the 2009 vintage. Fully open and in its drinking window, this is ripped with sandalwood and cedar, with undertones of tobacco, cloves and cinnamon, grilled blackberry and juicy raspberry fruits, fresh acidities, generous and ready to share - even more so with an hour in a carafe. Wonderfully balanced at just 13%abv also, happy days. 50% new oak.
The 2009 Cantemerle finally shows the potential that it displayed out of barrel. It has a delightful, well-defined bouquet with blackberry, cedar and tobacco aromas, vigorous with impressive delineation and class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, and a taut line of acidity. Fresh and vibrant with a poised and quite tensile finish. This is a wonderfully crafted 2009 Left Bank. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.