Château Cantemerle, 5eme Cru Classé, Haut Medoc,

Intense in both colour and structure, a wine that knows how to make an impact, and it is carrying itself with confidence. Impressive, full of nuanced cassis and bilberry fruit, with liquorice and smoked earth, hints of richly spiced vanilla patisserie cream showing the ripeness of the vintage. This is good, a little abrupt on the finish with a bitter almond kick. Tight tannins at this point. 40% new oak for ageing.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Cantemerle bursts with bold notions of black cherry preserves and blackcurrant pastilles, followed by hints of bay leaves, fallen leaves, and tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate is bright and refreshing, with fine-grained tannins and an energetic finish.

The 2022 Cantemerle has a feisty bouquet with perfumed blueberry and blackberry fruit, showy with an almost sorbet-like character. The palate is medium-bodied with blackberry and strawberry fruit, licorice and white pepper. It teeters on becoming a little cloying toward the finish and will need a very prudent barrel maturation. Hopefully, it will muster a bit more finesse.