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Cantemerle 2018

Haut Medoc, Fifth Growth

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Units Size Case size GBP Price: Quantities Buy
6 75cl Bottle Case 12 £235 per Case Bottles [Add to shopping basket]
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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+ 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+ 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 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 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 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 01 April 2019