Les Allees de Cantemerle ｜Haut Medoc｜5th Growth｜Cantermerle

【Second label of a Bordeaux Fifth Growth estate】【Cantemerle】

【Falstaff 89pts】【Vivino 3.9】

【Decanter 88pts】【Guide Hachette 2022】

ZF224A - Les Allees de Cantemerle 2018 

Single btl price: $178@

Six btls special offer: $158@    

Region: France / Haut-Médoc

Grape Varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot

Characteristics: Grapes harvested entirely by hand, aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and large vats

Alcohol Content: 13% 

Capacity: 750ml

Château Cantemerle boasts a long history, with the estate's origins dating back to 1147. Over the centuries, the estate changed hands several times while the vineyard area steadily expanded. Through the dedicated efforts of successive owners over the centuries, the quality of Château Cantemerle's wines steadily improved, culminating in its classification as a Fifth Growth during the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

In 1981, the French insurance company SMABTP GROUP acquired Château Cantemerle. Over the subsequent decade, the estate's new proprietors invested substantially, recruiting exceptional management and technical personnel. They undertook extensive vineyard restructuring, renovated the estate buildings, and significantly upgraded the winemaking facilities and equipment, transforming the estate beyond recognition. The estate's vineyard area expanded from 96 hectares to 170 hectares, establishing it as one of Bordeaux's most picturesque properties. Renowned worldwide for its substantial yields, consistent quality, and reasonable pricing, Château Cantemerle has garnered widespread acclaim among wine enthusiasts. Robert Parker has even advocated for its elevation from a Fifth Growth to a Third Growth estate, with its exceptional vintages becoming highly sought-after acquisitions.

Grapes are hand-picked and entirely destemmed, with each small vineyard plot fermented separately in large, truncated conical wooden vats. Notably, both the floating and settled portions are discarded, with only the middle section used for vinification – an improvement made possible by modern cellar facilities. Regarding oak barrels, approximately half are new, representing a rather restrained approach. The estate occupies a unique position in the Haut-Médoc. While the soil contains gravel, it is extremely fine-grained, approaching a sandy texture. This yields wines that are soft and fruit-forward. It is one of only two Premier Grand Cru Classé estates in the Haut-Médoc, and many wine enthusiasts hold a special regard for this wine. Estate manager Philippe Dambrine even employs 10% American oak barrels for ageing the second wine, Les Allées de Cantemerle, to endow it with rich aromatics even in its youth.