April 26, 2024 - Side by side with the 2014 Lanessan. Last year did the same comparison with 2010s, and Lanessan was the winner as Cantemerle came off a little chunky and overdone. This 2014 Cantemerle is in a good place: very fragrant - violets and oak - and beautifully balanced on the palate between cherry and plum fruit, pleasant tannic grip, and fresh acidity. 2014 is really a drinker's vintage, I love it. The oak is a little too much for my taste. Will follow for several days and see how it evolves. On day 2 this is similar, while the Lanessan improved. They are distinctly different, but both delicious: Cantemerle more savory and aromatic (and oakier), Lanessan more about pure fruit.
April 14, 2024 - decanted 2 hrs then back into the bottle, drank half over 3 hours. good density, textbook left bank bordeaux. black and red fruit, mint, dry. decent balance and ready to drink but lacking a bit of charm - unrealized potential perhaps. after a few days in the fridge under vacuvin, softer and more merlot dominated. for me, not a big step up from more value-priced cru bourgeois or cotes de bordeaux estates.
April 7, 2024 - Mineral, hint of leaves and black fruit, some tannins medium-bodied, lots of mint, decanted for 2 hrs but not much changes
March 24, 2024 - garnet hues on the edge of the glass; cigar box, forest loam, land jaeger and sweet herbs on the nose; rich black fruit, black currants and gunpowder on the palate. Well-rounded tannins, great complexity, a good fruit/acid balance. Definitely drinking well now, best to consume this year.
February 13, 2024 - Decanted 3hrs. Pours a mediump purple in the glass. Developing, med + intensity aromas of black currant, black cherry, black plum, creme de cassis, cedar, pencil shavings, oak, leather, vanilla, some cooked black fruits, dried herbs, dried blackberry. In the mouth, the wine is dry, med + acid, med + tannin, med alcohol, med + body, med + intensity on the palate, med finish. Overall, very good, can drink now, but can age further.
I would have like to see some more depth and body on this. Very early stage maturity, drink or hold 10+ yrs.
February 6, 2024 - Dark red color with some ripeness. Great aroma of ripe berries. CS. Somewhat typical blackcurrant and mineral. Good.
December 29, 2023 - Enjoyed this mature wine. Not a blockbuster but high quality. Ready now but can hold for some time yet I think.
December 18, 2023 - There are already some "spot on" tasting notes on this wine and not much I can add. One person noted the basics and I will add my own:
Garnet
Dry
Med + alcohol
Nose : Soft black fruits, forest floor, lead pencil, tobacco
Medium body
Palette : slight bitter cassis, dark fruits, forest floor and dried herbs
My wine was already showing garnet with slight hints of brown. Forrtunately, my bottle wasn't over the hill, but might have been perfect a year or two ago.
The most important note I wish to make is I found the drinking window to be at its peak now. I would not hold this wine. I thought it may have been my bottle, but once I read other taster's notes, I agree you should not hold this wine. It will not develop any further. I think this is a vintage that is drinking younger than other vintages and I need to further investigate this finding in my own cellar.
Enjoy this wine now!
November 1, 2023 - Lovely Bordeaux with typical Cab flavors. Very expressive and harmonious. I was surprised with the maturity and warm smooth fruit with a bit of spicy dust in the finish. I feel this is ready to drink.
October 27, 2023 - Tasted over two days, alongside the same vintage d'Armailhac.
Expressive bouquet of distinctly Cabernet Sauvignon markers, in Haut-Médoc terroir. Blackcurrant, pyrazines, and gravel, with herbaceous top notes, backed by mineral ores, coal in particular.
The wine tastes like it smells. Correct! Bold yet lean. Compelling veins of fruit and earth. Balanced oak and alcohol, excellent structure. A little light at the back and finish.
Going strong and likely to continue evolving for five to seven years. Likely to be at peak between 2032-2035. Delightful QPR.