2020 | Château Cantenac-Brown | Margaux (Magnum)

Ripe, rounded and suave in feel, with alluring waves of cassis and dark cherry reduction laced with sandalwood, black tea and violet notes. Broad, velvety and perfumed through the finish, with a subtle sanguine hint echoing late.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: A fine follow-up to the excellent 2019, the 2020 Cantenac Brown incorporates newly acquired holdings of Cabernet Sauvignon from the plateau of Margaux. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis, burning embers and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with good depth at the core, supple tannins and terrific purity of fruit. Concluding with a long, penetrating finish, it underlines the fact that this is the appellation's fastest-improving estate.

• James Suckling: Plenty of blackberry, spice, iron and crushed lead pencil aromas follow through to a full body with chewy, velvety tannins and a rather cool side to it. Crushed stone and slate undertones.

Producer Information

Château Cantemerle is a wine estate in the Haut-Médoc region north of Bordeaux city on the left bank of the Gironde estuary. The estate is ranked a fifth growth in the 1855 classification of the Médoc and Graves. The château's grand vin is Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and is made in a structured but fruit-driven style. Château Cantemerle can be enjoyed young but can also age for a decade or more. It is one of only two estates in the 1855 Classification to be subject to an amendment. The other – Château Mouton-Rothschild – was famously promoted to the first growths (from a second growth) in 1973, following much political lobbying on the part of owner Philippe de Rothschild. Cantemerle, on the other hand, did not immediately figure in the original list of 1855 but was added that year as a fifth growth following pressure on the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce by then-owner, Caroline de Villeneuve (for more, see the Château Cantemerle story here). The estate has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages, with the first mention of wines from the property coming in the 14th Century. The modern history of the château began in 1892 with Théophile-Jean Dubos' purchase of the estate, and it was passed down through the family until 1981 when it was acquired by French insurance group Societe Mutuelles d'Assurance du Batiment et des Travaux Public (SMABTP). Many of Cantemerle's vineyards were pulled out during the two world wars, and were replanted in the 1980s. This expanded the vineyard area from 20 hectares (50 acres) to 90 hectares (220 acres) by 1999. The soil in Cantemerle's vineyards is a mixture of silica and gravel. This is reasonably poor, and causes the vines to struggle, resulting in grapes with high levels of aromatic concentration. The vines, the majority of which are Cabernet Sauvignon, are on average 30 years old. A rigorous selection in the winery ensures only the best fruit is fermented, and then aged for 12-16 months in French oak, about half of which is new. Château Cantemerle's second wine, Les Allées de Cantemerle, is produced in a more approachable style than the grand vin.

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