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Cantemerle 2009

Haut Medoc, Fifth Growth

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Tasting Notes

Readers looking for the more ethereal, elegant side of Bordeaux need search no further than Cantemerle, one of the estates in the very southern end of the Medoc. Dense ruby/purple (nearly opaque), this wine offers up notes of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, raspberries and black cherries. The wine is ethereal, medium-bodied, and by no means a blockbuster, but long and intellectual. However, the tannins are present, and the wine is certainly capable of putting on weight with time in the bottle. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25+ years. (91+ Points)

Score: 91

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2040 01 March 2012

This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the Cabernet dominating, looks to be the best they have ever produced, even eclipsing the 2005. Dense purple in color, with extraordinarily elegant floral notes intermixed with raspberry, black currant, cherry, and spice box, it is medium to full-bodied, not massive, but again, very seamless, with beautiful precision, sweet tannins, and an endearing fleshiness and depth of flavor that are neither heavy nor fatiguing. This wine will be relatively approachable in 3-5 years and drink well for 25-30. (Tasted two times.)

Score: 92 - 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-40 01 April 2010

Gorgeous ripe fruit character, with loads of blueberries, blackberries and flowers. Full body, with velvety tannins and a fruity, fresh, grapefruit aftertaste. Really beautiful. Best ever from here. Best after 2018.

Score: 95

James Suckling, - Maturity: 2018+ 15 February 2012

Very pretty and aromatic on the nose, with currant and flowers. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a clean finish.

Score: 88 - 91

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 31 March 2010

Tasted at a negociant. The Cantemerle ’09 has a well defined, quite pure nose that shows more precision and essence of terroir than the Camensac sampled alongside. A very nice marriage between exuberant ripe, rounded fruit and Bordeaux austerity. The palate is medium-bodied, quite smoky and meaty on the entry, just a hint of leafiness that here lends the wine freshness and vitality. Unashamedly classic in style, but I think they pulled off a lovely, traditional Haut-Médoc here. Excellent. Tasted March 2010.

Score: 91 - 93

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 29 March 2010

Ripe wild bramble nose. Good quality pure fruit. Lacks the punch and concentration of some but this is beautifully easy with good freshness.

Score: 88 - 90

Albany Vintners, - 01 January 1900