2025, Château Cantemerle, HAUT-MÉDOC, 5ème Grand Cru Classé

2025 is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

A popular classed growth château from the southern Médoc, situated just below the village of Margaux. Cantemerle always provides reliable quality and value for money.

The 2025 Cantemerle is terrific. Plush, deep and quite powerful, Cantemerle has a lot to offer. Dark red fruit, leather, cedar, tobacco and dried herbs are all dialed up. Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend, which is very much in evidence in the wine's savoury intense and structure. There's a lot of wine here. 2030-2043 91-93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

This shows an attractive nose of flowers and subtle spices from the oak. It has good concentration and a balanced palate, with a clear, expressive fruit profile. 93-94 James Suckling.

Plenty of elegance and balance and measured acidities that give Left Bank typicity, a ton of ageing potential and curls of gunsmoke and flowers. Very pretty, very enjoyable, impressive. 35% new oak. First vintage in new cellars. 2034-2044. 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux.

The 2025 Cantemerle has a pretty nose with violet and iris flower-infused black fruit, very well defined, the oak very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very well balanced, impressive weight and cohesive.  A moreish Haut-Médoc in the making, and I look forward to revisiting this in bottle. Drinking Window 2031 - 2050 91-93 Neal Martin, Vinous.