Château Cantemerle 2017

Discreet nose, fruity, well-judged oak, straightforward attack, classic build, slender, fine-grained tannins, good length, balanced, reliable.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cantemerle is sporting a lot of oak, herbs and tilled soil over a cassis and baked plums core plus pencil lead and chargrill touches. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with nice freshness and good length.

Ripe and forward in feel, with a fun blast of black cherry pâte de fruit and plum compote notes. A light anise and apple wood frame keeps this in check through the finish. Shows good freshness despite the ebullient persona. Should knit up a bit with moderate cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028. 30,000 cases made.

Deep nose of perfumed blackcurrant, vanilla and balsamic notes with hints of wet stones. Fresh yet powerful on the palate, vibrant with rich tannins.

Barley, walnut-shell and blackberry character. Full body. Chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. A little lean and tight now and needs some time to soften. Better after 2020.

Bright, fresh, crisp, and crunchy, with a floral and mint accent to the red fruits on the medium-bodied, vibrant palate. Drink from 2022-2035.

Kunz barrel sample 18: Herbs, restrained bouquet, red berries, wood, tobacco. Angular, slender palate with sandy tannins, light aromatics, dry finish.

Herbs, restrained bouquet, red berries, wood, tobacco. Angular, slender palate with sandy tannins, light aromatics, dry finish. 16/20 2024 - 2032

Black tea, cassis, rosebud, chalk, mineral, gentle citrus fruit, sweet oak impact on the finish, good quality. Both Cabernet Franc and Merlot were impacted by frost – which at the time was the first real frost since 1991 at Cantemerle, making final yields 40 hl/ha. 40% new oak for ageing, Eric Boissenot consultant, Philippe Dambrine estate director.

The 2017 Cantemerle has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It wafts out with fragrant notes of dried roses and lavender, over a core of Morello cherries and boysenberries, plus a hint of tar. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is fantastically elegant and refreshing, with fine-grained tannins supporting the red berry layers, finishing with a peppery lift.

A grand, noble and complex nose of cedar, with an equally racy texture; long, refined, and in the style of a great Saint-Julien. This is the most successful Haut-Médoc tasted blind.

A supple, pleasantly loose-knit and fine wine, in the Cantemerle style.

Juicy, tasty, sappy, a hint of green, round tannins, lovely finish.

Dense garnet red with violet highlights. A youthful bouquet where the élevage shows with delicacy. Pleasant fresh fruit with notes of black and red berries. On the palate, the wine is gourmand, compact and silky. Its tannins are perfectly integrated with a fine grain, while the structure is rather discreet yet clearly effective, as freshness is by no means lacking. A very good Cantemerle; we’ve come to expect it from this estate!

The nose seems older than its age. The palate is fruity but light.

92–94. Barrel Sample. Dry tannins and juicy fruit give this wine its structure while also bringing out the freshness of the vintage. There is a fine, juicy character that is already attractive. Drink from 2023.