Chateau Cantemerle 2016

Chateau Cantemerle 2016 : a Haut-Medoc with very supple tannins

Chateau Cantemerle is a 5^th Classified Growth of 1855 produced in the Haut-Medoc appellation. The vineyard of 91 hectares benefits from vines aged 30 years on average planted in silico-gravelly soil. The wine is aged for 16 months - 12 months in barrel (40% new, 40% of one previous wine and 20% of two previous wines) and 4 months in vats after the final blending. Chateau Cantemerle 2016 consists of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.

During the first six months of the year, the vineyard received much more rain than in a typical year. Thanks to a window of good weather at the beginning of June, the flowering occurred in an ideal manner. The summer then settled and brought with it heat and an incredible dryness. Finally, thanks to a rainy season in mid-September and an Indian summer with high thermal amplitudes, the vineyard was revitalized and was able to perfect the ripening of the berries. The fruit reached optimum maturity right before harvest, which took place peacefully between the 22^nd of September and the 17^th of October.

At the tasting, the Chateau Cantemerle 2016 develops attractive aromas with subtle notes of tobacco. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, with tannins of great suppleness and deep fruity flavors combined with tasty touches of blackberries, cedar and graphite. The wine is precise with good tension.