Château Cantemerle, 5eme Cru Classé, Haut Medoc, 2010
The last wine in the 1855 classification is more than deserving of its place given the quality of the wines produced here in the last decade. Last year the J&B team got very excited about Cantemerle and so did Robert Parker giving it a whopping 92-94 This year is much the same story from us. A classically styled Cantemerle, cut flowers, plum liqueur, damsons and a nice mineral touch. There is surprising density, impressive concentration, ripe dark berries, svelte fruit; a pure, seductive and powerful example with smooth, fine grained tannins. Very good indeed!
critic reviews
Medium intensity deep ruby in colour, delicious aromatics, still fairly reserved at this point, it's great quality with dark brambled fruit, a smudge of grilled cedar oak and layers of liquorice root and tobacco leaf but less generous and joyful than the 2009. 50% new oak. Bottled after a light fining but no filtering.
The 2010 Cantemerle is vigorous and open on the nose, a mixture of red and black fruit with cedar and humidor scents. I admire the focus and detail. The palate is rounded in texture on the entry. This is a plumper, richer, more fruit-driven 2010 with a lush finish on the context of the growing season. You could broach this now, although I would prefer to leave it another three or four years. This is another excellent wine and candidate for most over-performing cru this vintage. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.