Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
This wine comes from one of the first of the grand estates when driving north up the Médoc. The wine brings out the brightness of the vintage as well as its structure and potential for aging. This is balanced, fruit and tannins allied with succulent acidity. Drink from 2027.
-
James Suckling
Attractive herb and capsicum notes lend freshness to the red currants and plums. Medium body on the palate with a very fluid center palate. Crunchy, elegant and juicy finish with good length. Has plenty of appeal now.
-
Decanter
Strongly perfumed, smells strongly of Petit Verdot. Quite high acidity, sharp and tangy straight away, prominent acidity which is mouthwatering, then settles and turns a bit creamy and chalky towards the finish. Ends a little bit bitter. Calm, not shouting, and missing a bit more push and sense of juiciness, a little serious right now but this should round out nicely and provide lots of short-to-mid-term drinking pleasure.
-
Vinous
The 2021 Cantemerle is floral, lifted and very pretty. Crushed flowers, red-toned fruit, spice, mocha and licorice take shape in a wine that impresses with its delineated, persistent personality. All the elements are nicely balanced. There is a bit of tightness on the finish, but overall, this is nicely done. –Antonio Galloni
After belonging to the Villeneuve (1579-1892) and Dubos (1892-1980) families, the chateau was acquired in 1981 by Groupe SMA, a large mutual insurance company in the construction and civil engineering sector. The estate's long history is reflected in the chateau's distinctive architecture and the magnificent grounds that surround it. Cantemerle exudes romantic charm and its wine has a magical feel to it!
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.