Château Cantemerle

The history of Château Cantemerle

Château Cantemerle dates back to the Middle Ages. At the time, it was located around 1 kilometer from the present-day château, and was part of the line of fortifications that defended the banks of the Médoc. The first historical references to Château Cantemerle can be found in a manuscript dating from 1147 - the Grand Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Sauve Majeure - which mentions the lords of Cantemerle. The first traces of wine production on the estate appear in the archives in 1354, with notification of the payment of tithes by the lord of Cantemerle. In the 1600s, the estate's new owner modified the farm, transforming it into Bourdieu. This meant that vines now played a predominant role. From the 12th century onwards, vines became the main activity. Château Cantemerle has had many owners over the years. Today, it belongs to the SMA insurance group.

The Château Cantemerle vineyard

Château Cantemerle's grounds extend over 28 hectares, planted with immense trees, including plane trees whose ridges reach almost 40 meters in height. The vineyard is located in the southern part of the Médoc peninsula, on the outskirts of the villages of Macau and Ludon. It covers 91 hectares. The soil is mainly deep gravel with a siliceous-gravelly composition. The gravel resulting from erosion in the Pyrenees accentuates the poverty of the soil. As a result, the vines sometimes suffer and defend themselves by producing particularly concentrated berries. The sandy part of the soil is made up of water-filtering pebbles, which capture the heat of the day. This heat is released during the night, accelerating the ripening of the grapes. Château Cantemerle is planted with 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The average age of the vines is 35 years. The older the vines get, the deeper they sink their roots into the soil. As a result, they express more fully the typicity of their terroir. At the same time, they produce less fruit, but it is more concentrated. Harvesting at Château Cantemerle is carried out by hand. They are followed by an extremely scrupulous sorting, carried out on four tables, retaining only berries of the highest quality.

The wines of Château Cantemerle

The château produces two wines: Château Cantemerle and Les Allées de Cantemerle, both belonging to the AOC Haut Médoc appellation. Château Cantemerle is a wine of character, with a brilliant color. Its fruity nose is persistent. Its palate is supple and vigorous. When drunk young, Château Cantemerle offers a delicious refinement of fruity flavors that meld with the vanilla taste of the barrels in which it was matured. With age, the wine gains in stature, with deeper aromas. Château Cantemerle wines lend themselves wonderfully to long ageing.