Winemaker Notes
This is a classic Médoc vintage where the end of the growing season favored mature Cabernets. These grapes make their presence felt in the glass with elegant aromas of black fruit and tobacco, and on the palate with flavorful scents of black currant and spice. Ripe tannins contribute balance, intensity, and a good long finish. This is a wine which magnificently illustrates the potential of the Cantemerle terroir.
It perfectly accompanies a veal sauté, a blanquette and various cheese-based dishes.
Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Cantemerle was the "surprise package" of the blind tasting at Farr Vintners' horizontal. It has a conservative nose with rosemary and undergrowth scents that open nicely in the glass, but retain a sense of classicism. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, lightly spiced red berry fruit, sage and white pepper, quite persistent on the finish, which feels very pure. What an outstanding 2006 Claret - a Cantemerle that punches well above its weight.
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James Suckling
This is light a tightly wound ball of wool. It’s velvety textured with ripe tannins, plum skin and berry character. Full, long and intense. Just starting to drink well.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
While it claims the same basic landscape as the Medoc—only every so slightly elevated above river level—the Haut Medoc is home to all of the magnificent chateaux of the Left Bank of Bordeaux, creating no lack of beautiful sites to see.
These chateaux, residing over the classed-growth cru in the villages of Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe are within the Haut Medoc appellation. Though within the confines of these villages, any classed-growth chateaux will most certainly claim village or cru status on their wine labels.
Interestingly, some classed-growth cru of the Haut Medoc fall outside of these more famous villages and can certainly be a source of some of the best values in Bordeaux. Deep in color, and concentrated in ripe fruit and tannins, these wines (typically Cabernet Sauvignon-based) often prove the same aging potential of the village classed-growths. Among these, the highest ranked chateaux are Chateau La Lagune and Chateau Cantemerle.