Château Cantemerle 2000

This fully mature, elegant 2000 tails off slightly in the finish. Notes of forest floor, bay leaf, licorice, red currants, and cranberries are offered in a Burgundian-like, fresh, vibrant format. The tannins have melted away in this medium-bodied, finesse-styled effort. Consume it over the next 7-8 years.

Opulent red. Intense aromas of currants, cigar tobacco and berries. Full-bodied, with a solid core of silky tannins and a long finish. Well-made. Best after 2008. 42,000 cases made.

A wine at its peak now, with tobacco, berry and spice character. Some oyster shell as well. Full and decadent. Soft and silky-textured. Drink now. Needs decanting.

Changed hands in 1981 with only 20ha left of a large property. Still very deep with the merest hint of ruby and paleness at the rim. Very subtle nose – lures you in but there is no hint of overripeness here, rather a hidden message. Fresh and succulent with hints of tea and toast but very subtle ones. Really quite delicate and beautifully balanced. Neat, medium finish. (JR)

Sweet tobacco, cherries and earthy scents are found in the nose. On the palate, this is a lighter, medium bodied style of wine with soft, refined textures. The finish offers sweet and tart, bright red fruits. There is not much reason to age this wine any longer. Drink up.

Deep garnet red with a purple shimmer at the rim. Expansive, soft plum bouquet with fine blackcurrant notes and blackberry, already quite complex. Refined, elegant palate with an almost delicate structure; the finish may be a touch lean, yet it remains elegant and very appealing. It can still gain in depth, but it’s already a pleasure to drink early.

01: Deep garnet red with a purple sheen at the rim. An expansive, supple plum bouquet with fine notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, already quite complex. A refined, elegant palate, almost delicate in structure; perhaps a touch slender on the finish, yet still an elegant, very appealing wine that can gain further depth and, in any case, already offers plenty of enjoyment when young. 16/20 2005 – 2015

The wine stands out for how it evolves on both the nose and the palate. More charming than dense. The château has done much better since.

Dark red color. Bordeaux. Medium to good intensity. Medium-intensity nose. Toasty and slightly vegetal. The palate is harsh and green. Disappointing.