Château Cantemerle 2021
by Château Cantemerle
- Grape variety
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
- Region
- Haut-Médoc, Médoc (AOC Haut-Médoc), France
- Style
- red
- Alcohol
- 13%
- Vintage
- 2021
Price: CHF 29 In stock
About this wine
Château Cantemerle is the southernmost classified growth of 1855 — a Fifth Grand Cru Classé set within an extraordinary wooded park where the Médoc peninsula meets the outskirts of Bordeaux. The estate dates to the 12th century and takes its name from the song thrush ('cantemerle' in old Gascon) that nests in its ancient forest. The SMA group took ownership in 1981 and undertook a complete restoration; today the estate works 96 hectares of clay-gravel soils on the classic Médoc plateau. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The 2021 vintage was a cooler, more precise year — lean fruit, firm acidity, wines with the structure to develop slowly over the medium term.
Tasting notes
Deep ruby. The nose is fresh and focused — cassis, red and black cherry, with cedar, violet and a fine dried herb note. On the palate, medium-full with dry, structured tannins and a bright acidity that keeps everything together. The 2021 character shows in the precision and freshness. Finish is long, mineral and aromatic. A wine that rewards a little patience.
Aromas
cassis, black cherry, red cherry, cedar, violet, dried herbs, graphite
Critic scores
- Parker: 89
- Vivino: 4.1
- Suckling: 92
Structure
body medium · tannin medium · acidity high · sweetness dry
Serving
Serve at 17–19°C · Drink 2026–2034
Food pairings
Roast lamb with garlic and thyme, Beef rib with sauce bordelaise, Duck breast with cherry sauce, Aged Comté
Best for
Fifth growth. First-class table.
From the winemaker
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from clay-gravel soils of the Cantemerle plateau in the Haut-Médoc; classic Médoc vinification; aged in French oak barriques; 2021 — cool, precise vintage with firm natural acidity; Château Cantemerle, Fifth Grand Cru Classé 1855.
Editor's note
Cantemerle is the forgotten Cru Classé — at the very south of the Médoc, tucked behind its extraordinary wooded park, it rarely gets the attention of the big names. But the 2021 shows exactly what this estate does well: precision, freshness, and a structure that rewards patience. The Fifth Growth label undersells it.
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