Chateau Cantemerle 2009 Haut Medoc 5eme Cru Classe

Description

Chateau Cantemerle is located on the Haut Medoc wine growing appellation of Bordeaux in the communes of Macau and Ludon. It is a historic chateau designated as a fifth growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

Chateau Cantemerle has a long history of viticulture with the first mention of wine being made as far back as 1354. The estate was owned by he Villeneuve Durfort family from 1579 until 1892 when it was bought, in near ruin, by the Dubos family. They owned the Chateau until it was sold to the Groupe SMABTP (Les Mutuelles d’Assurance du Bâtiment et des Travaux Public) in 1981 and was extensively and almost completely rebuilt.

The vineyards are situated on the deep gravels of the communes of Macau and Ludon and covers some 98 hectares with 95 hectares of vineyard in production. The vineyards are planed with 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Average vine age is 35 years old.

The grapes are harvested by hand and are sorted on our tables each with four sorters who remove damaged bunched, dried leaves and any other unwanted bits and pieces from the freshly picked grapes. The grapes are destemmed and the various plots are fermented separately in large vats, allowing for slow, gentle extraction of tannins. The wine is aged for 12 months in 225L French oak barrels (35% new with a soft medium toast). After blending the wine is then left to rest in vats fro 4 months prior to bottling at the Chateau.

Chateau Cantemerle 2009 is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc.