Chateau Cantemerle 2016
In a manuscript dated 1147, The Pons of Cantemerle was witness to a donation by the Lord of Blanquefort to the La Sauve Majeur Abbey. Officially wine began to be produced in 1354. The Lord of Cantemerle paid 1 cask of wine as tithes. In 1369 King Edward III named Louis Chabot lord of Cantemerle. The title allowed him to receive 1/6 of the harvest from the fief. The estate passed to the Caupene family in the 15th century. The Cantemerle estate was more focused on growing grains than grapes during the early part of its history. For example In 1575, only 12 casks of wine were produced from whole estate.
In 1579 Jean de Villeneuve purchased the estate. After his marriage into the Dufort family, his heirs would controlled Cantemerle for over 300 years. Jeanne Amande de Villeneuve Dufort was the last in line ot own the property. The estate was sold at auction upon her death. After purchasing the estate 2 weeks prior, the Calvert firm sold it to Theophile-Jean Dubos. In 1981, the Dubos family sold the Estate to Group SMABTP. At that time only 20 hectares of the estate was producing grapes. After heavy investment from SMABTP, there are 90 hectares producing grapes. The vineyards are 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and %5 each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Wine Spectator: 90
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Starts with a violet note but turns darker quickly, with dark currant and black cherry preserve flavors forming the core. Nice fresh tobacco and iron details carry the mouthwatering finish. Not big, but focused and tasty. Drink now through 2030.
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Decanter: 92
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Sweet fruit on the nose is joined by plum and touches of vanillin. It has a southern Médoc feel, with almost-jammy fruit and a gourmet, damson streak. Edgy tannins hold the appealing, generous fruit, and the acidity is pretty high, but that's a signature of the vintage. A blend of the two Cabernets, Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, aged for 12 months in oak, 40% new. Eric Boissenot consults.
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Wine Enthusiast: 93
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Well-integrated tannins give this wine a rich, velvet character that is underlined by the blackberry fruits. The aftertaste is dense, concentrated and rich.
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James Suckling: 94
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Plenty of menthol, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas in this elegant, medium-weight Haut-Médoc that’s got as much freshness as ripeness and a long, clean, mineral and herbal finish. An incredibly food-flexible wine! Drink or hold.
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