Château Cantemerle is a large estate (94 hectares) that has long had a loyal following. This is due in no small part to the fact that they have always sold their wine at reasonable prices and enjoyed an excellent reputation for value (price quality ratio). Cantemerle is a fifth growth that almost didn’t make it into the 1855 classification because most of the wine was exported directly to the Netherlands, thereby bypassing the usual system of brokers and négociants. It was, however, added later that same year.
Located in Macau, Cantemerle is close to the Margaux appellation, and this proximity clearly shows through in the wine, which is on the lighter side, with considerable elegance.
I recently opened up a bottle of 2010 Cantemerle and was not disappointed. I decanted it three hours before the meal.
The wine had an impressive super-dark colour, only just beginning to show some bricking.
The bouquet was wonderful, probably the best part of the wine. This showed marked graphite and floral (violet) overtones, as well as forest floor nuances. Unquestionably classy.
Although enjoyable, the palate didn’t quite live up to the nose. While light on its feet, the wine lacked balance to some degree. This is to say that the initial impression was smooth, but the middle palate dropped and the tannin on the finish was somewhat grainy, tough, and dry. The body was on the light side. Obviously, the question with Bordeaux is: will things improve with age? In my opinion, they will to some extent, but never undergo a noteworthy change.
Despite the above paragraph giving a slightly negative spin, this 2010 Cantemerle was a very good bottle of wine and an affordable treat. Furthermore, a recent visit there showed that quality at this estate is on the up-and-up, so Cantemerle continues to be a sure-fire bet.