Appellations

Cantemerle 2018

Haut Medoc, Fifth Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2018 Cantemerle is going through a challenging time. Mid-weight structure and harsh, angular tannins are penalizing. Dark cherry, graphite, dried herb and coffee struggle to emerge, but the 2018 never really fills out.

Score: 86 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2021 - 2028 Date: 26 August 2021

The 2018 Cantemerle is a soft, easygoing wine with only limited depth. The challenges of the growing season are impossible to escape in this fleeting, light-weight effort. The 2018 offers good immediacy, but is also a bit lacking in depth and persistence. Graphite, dark spice and blackberry open up nicely. Severe hail took with it 50% of the crop.

Score: 86 - 88 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019

The 2018 Cantemerle has an initially perplexing nose, very outgoing with predominantly red berry fruit that feels too oaky. Then it coalesces with aeration, though there is quite a lot of reduction in evidence. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and, again, mainly red fruit plus a touch of sea salt. Yet it lacks precision and delineation, feeling rather forced on the finish. Not my favorite vintage from this reliable performer, and I must admit that it left me scratching my head.

Score: 85 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2021 - 2027 Date: 18 August 2021

The 2018 Cantemerle has a vivid and quite floral bouquet, pressed violets infusing the black cherry and raspberry fruit and the oak nicely integrated. It just seems to lose a bit of its initial vigor in the glass. The fresh, chewy palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and veins of greenness toward the finish.

Score: 85 - 87 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2027 Date: 01 November 2019

A ripe, full-bodied, slightly chewy wine that brings plenty of character, the 2018 Château Cantemerle offers lots of smoky black fruits, graphite, background oak, notable overall balance, and impressive, polished tannins. It needs 2-4 years in the cellar, but this solid, seriously good Haut-Médoc should still be going strong at age 15.

Score: 89 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2023 - 2036 Date: 18 July 2021

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cantemerle leaps from the glass with scents of Morello cherries, raspberry pie, fruitcake and prunes, plus hints of potpourri and unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate is chewy and a little tart, featuring some otherwise pleasant fruitcake flavors, finishing just a little drying and rustic.

Score: 85 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2021 - 2028 Date: 11 July 2021

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cantemerle delivers notions of crème de cassis, raisin cake and prunes with hints of Chinese five spice and dusty soil. Full-bodied and boldly fruited with dried berries and fruit preserves, it has a firm, chewy texture and just enough freshness, finishing spicy.

Score: 86 - 88 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

Rich aromas of blackberries, dried currants, chocolate, walnuts and tile on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Polished and structured with a nice core of black fruit. Give it at least a couple of years of bottle age. Lovely balance to it. Try after 2023.

Score: 93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2023+ Date: 03 March 2021

Rich aromas of blackberries, dried currants, chocolate, walnuts and tile on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Polished and structured with a nice core of black fruit. Give it at least a couple of years of bottle age. Lovely balance to it. Try after 2023.

Score: 93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2023+ Date: 03 March 2021

A rich and layered young Bordeaux with a solid center palate of ripe fruit and coated with ripe and polished tannins. Tightly wound ball now. Pretty texture and length to this.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

Some reduction on the first nose here. Really takes some time before the fruit starts to come out, showing nuanced layers of raspberry and chocolate, with a tiny touch of bitterness on the finish. There is clear power and depth here. Give it time in bottle.

Score: 91 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2042 Date: 10 November 2020

There's an enjoyable texture and plush fruit in this elegant, well balanced wine. It has precise aromatics of black pepper, liquorice and freshly cut herbs. It's good but a touch more restrained than most of its peers. 33hl/ha. Aged in 40% new oak. 6% Petit Verdot makes up the blend.

Score: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2023-2038 Date: 15 April 2019

Direct, with a stony accent to the red currant and damson plum flavors. A bit austere on the finish.

Score: 87 - 90 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2019