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CHÂTEAU CANTEMERLE

2014 5ème Cru Classé Macau

IN STOCK
Grapes Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cab Sauv
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
District Left Bank
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Macau
Classification 5ème Cru Classé
ABV 14%

Here is another of the smaller names who has produced a cracking 2014. There is much to love here. Attractive floral nose - some pretty spice and then good dark plump cherry flesh is seasoned with a touch of cigar box toast. Neither flashy nor lean - this is well balanced, juicy claret with sophisticated stylish poise. Rating: 90 L&S (Mar 2015)

*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.

The 2014 Cantemerle has a sweet and candied bouquet with crushed strawberry, cherry liqueur, orange zest and just a light touch of cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, moderate acidity, hints of pencil lead and black pepper with quite a solid finish that needs to develop more terroir expression and finesse. However, I feel that there is potential here. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2020 - 2035 Rating: 88 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Mar 2018)

Rather simple primary fruit on the nose. Good balance and well-worked tannins on the palate but then a bit pinched on the end. Sour finish. Drinking range: 2024 - 2034 Rating: 16 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Feb 2018)

A wine of notable precision, persistence and class, the 2014 Cantemerle is outstanding. Sweet tobacco, licorice, red cherry and dried savory herbs are some of the signatures. Medium in body and lively, the 2014 captures the best attributes of the year. This is a positively stellar showing. Drinking range: 2017 - 2026 Rating: 92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2017)

Château Cantemerle

Philippe Dambrine retires as director of the estate at the end of the 2020 vintage, after a long successful tenure. He is replaced by Laure Canu from Château Angélus. Laure is taking on the property in fine fettle with recent innovations in the cellar including their Air-Flow pump system that ensures the softest touch and minimal extraction of the juice - particularly valuable in the recent run of hot vintages. In the vineyard too plot selections and their HVE (level 3) certification means the developments continue towards healthier, better and more sustainable farming.
The long history of Château Cantemerle begins at least as far back as the 12th Century when it was a fortification. Wine production got under way seriously under the watch of the Villeneuve family who bought Cantemerle in 1579 and finally sold up in 1892. During that time Château Cantemerle famously scraped in to the 1855 classification as an apparent last minute addition after some frantic lobbying by Caroline de Villeneuve-Durfort. Théophile-Jean Dubos bought Cantemerle in 1892 and had some initial success, but the 20th Century saw a familiar period of decline and his descendents sold up nearly a hundred years later in 1981 to the Groupe SMABTP who's recent investments have put Château Cantemerle back on its feet.
Château Cantemerle lies in Macau, to the south of the Margaux appellation. There are 87ha under vine, planted to 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Grapes are hand harvested. The Grand Vin spends 12 months in wood, of which 50% is new.
There is a second wine - Les Allées de Cantemerle.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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