In Bond Fine Wine. 2018 Château Cantemerle, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France. Fifth Growth • Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 89/100 (JD). Drinking window: 2021–2038. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Chateau Cantemerle, the consistently popular Fifth Growth of the 1855 Classification, is one of the Médoc’s great value classed growths. With a history dating back to the 14th century, the estate produces elegant, Cabernet Sauvignon led wines from deep gravel soils in the Haut-Médoc, combining cassis fruit, cedar and fresh acidity with fine, polished tannins. The second wine, Les Allées de Cantemerle, offers an earlier drinking and highly approachable expression of the estate’s classic Left Bank style.
Antonio Galloni (AG) — 86/100 · Vinous, 26/08/2021 · Drink 2021 - 2028
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.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (LPB) — 86–88/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 23/04/2019
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cantemerle delivers notions of creme 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.
Jane Anson (JA) — 92/100 · Inside Bordeaux, 2025-03-26 · Drink 2026-2038
Concentration and power through the palate, lovely quality, with depth and texture to the brambled fruit, wrapped with freshly cut herbs, gunsmoke and cocoa bean, maintains the elegance and chalky minerality of Cantemerle, a touch abrupt on the finish. A ripe vintage where they focused on stripping back any interventions in the cellar, low yields after hail. worked on less intervention, plus the…