Fully saturated cork so kudos to my Durand! Fabulous nose which only a fully mature left bank Bordeaux can deliver. Damp earth, pipe tobacco, leather, truffle and some Ceylon tea and cedar. Tertiary red and dark fruit on the palate with fully resolved tannins and a medium, cedary finish. While a bottle drunk a few years back showed better this was still a very enjoyable encounter. I suggest to drink any bottles you may have now to capture the best of this wine as it is on its descent.
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very impressed by this "humble" 5th growth. fruit still very alive. tannins present, but almost fully resolved, some cassis and blackcurrant. a definite over performer
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Sunken in cork but obviously still sealing well as this was a beautiful showing. A translucent garnet but without any browning, fresh with perfectly integrated acidity, forest floor, some dark fruit, tobacco. With more air this becomes more astringent, or it could have been also some of the sediment in the bottom of the glass contributing to the sensation. Anyway great showing on Pnp and better than a recent 89 I had.
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Probably at the peak of its life. Perfectly mature Bdx. From the best terroir in Bdx? Off course not, but it illustrates that Cantemerle can mature very well in great vintages. That magnum effect has undoubtedly played a role in this.
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I got a little concerned when I cut the capsule and saw the cork was very moldy. I cleaned it up, got the cork out, and decanted for a bit. Very acidic and some off organics on opening. Put back in the bottle for two hours.
By dinner, the acidity had pulled back and the initial nose blew off. What was left was a wonderfully aged claret. Mostly secondary and tertiary aromas, cedar, tobacco, pencil shavings, leather, and herbs. Tannins fully resolved, almost sweet, long memorable finish.
Wonderful pairing with sous vide lamb shoulder and salsa verde. Really enjoyable and worth the wait.
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8/7/2023 - hkbob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fully saturated cork so kudos to my Durand! Fabulous nose which only a fully mature left bank Bordeaux can deliver. Damp earth, pipe tobacco, leather, truffle and some Ceylon tea and cedar. Tertiary red and dark fruit on the palate with fully resolved tannins and a medium, cedary finish. While a bottle drunk a few years back showed better this was still a very enjoyable encounter. I suggest to drink any bottles you may have now to capture the best of this wine as it is on its descent.
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12/31/2022 - asparagus Likes this wine: 93 Points
very impressed by this "humble" 5th growth. fruit still very alive. tannins present, but almost fully resolved, some cassis and blackcurrant. a definite over performer
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10/13/2022 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sunken in cork but obviously still sealing well as this was a beautiful showing. A translucent garnet but without any browning, fresh with perfectly integrated acidity, forest floor, some dark fruit, tobacco. With more air this becomes more astringent, or it could have been also some of the sediment in the bottom of the glass contributing to the sensation. Anyway great showing on Pnp and better than a recent 89 I had.
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9/21/2021 - Honeyburst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Probably at the peak of its life. Perfectly mature Bdx. From the best terroir in Bdx? Off course not, but it illustrates that Cantemerle can mature very well in great vintages. That magnum effect has undoubtedly played a role in this.
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7/28/2019 - SonomaCoaster Likes this wine: 93 Points
I got a little concerned when I cut the capsule and saw the cork was very moldy. I cleaned it up, got the cork out, and decanted for a bit. Very acidic and some off organics on opening. Put back in the bottle for two hours.
By dinner, the acidity had pulled back and the initial nose blew off. What was left was a wonderfully aged claret. Mostly secondary and tertiary aromas, cedar, tobacco, pencil shavings, leather, and herbs. Tannins fully resolved, almost sweet, long memorable finish.
Wonderful pairing with sous vide lamb shoulder and salsa verde. Really enjoyable and worth the wait.
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