Cantemerle 2016

Tasted blind. Almost jammy it’s so rich on the nose! Very dry finish. A bit austere.Drink 2024 – 2030

The 2016 Château Cantemerle is a solid effort, yielding ample mulberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with notions of tobacco, cedarwood, and spring flowers. It’s not a blockbuster but has a perfumed, complex, medium-bodied style that’s a joy to drink. Enjoy it over the coming 10-15 years. 2019 - 2034.

Rich fruit on the nose the palate has depth of flavour a mix of black fruits. The ripe sweet fruit is underpinned by freshness bright vibrant slightly lighter at the back the finish though has depth rich concentrated fruit. 2026-36

Lovers of good value claret should flock towards this lovely red blend in 2016. Fresh, sappy and grassy, it’s a wine that’s all about texture and fruit flavour rather than oak and tannin. Elegant, subtle and effortlessly complex. 2020-28

The 2016 Cantemerle has a fresh bouquet of airy, floral black fruit; light violet scents emerge with time. The sorbet-fresh palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, and blood orange mingles with supple red fruit toward the graphite-infused finish. Delicious, classic and probably destined to age with class. Maybe a great value to boot? Drink 2022-2045

The 2016 Cantemerle has a tightly wound bouquet and it never quite delivers the detail and mineralité that some of its peers have produced in this vintage. There are attractive undergrowth scents and a touch of tobacco, but it does not leap from the glass with joy. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, good depth of fruit, blackberry laced with cedar and graphite. One sample was missed a little precision, however, a second and third demonstrated much more precision and tension. My score reflects this. Drink 2020 - 2030.

Dense and chewy already with plenty of ripe tannins and bright fruit. Vivid acidity. Full body, a firm and silky texture and a flavorful finish. Lots going on. Excellent follow-up to the great 2015!

For me this is easily one of their best ever wines, totally living up to its fifth growth billing. Lovely and juicy with excellent tension, really walking that line. Menthol, cassis and cedar are framed by well-wrought tannins that bring the whole thing together and lead onto a juicy finish. The blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot is aged in 40% new oak for 12 months, followed by a further four months in vats before bottling. Drink 2027 - 2040

Quite pungent with treacly notes on the nose. Fairly light and soulless - not to say a little fruitless. Green notes on the end.Drink 2023-2030