The 2012 Château Cantemerle showcases a classic Médoc style with a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. It’s an elegant, approachable wine with a medium to full body, offering juicy fruit flavors like strawberry and red currant, complemented by subtle game notes on the finish. It has a soft and supple texture, making it enjoyable now but still holding up well for future drinking.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 92
Published: Feb 8, 2015

This red shows some cassis, blueberries and floral notes on the nose. Some tar, too. Medium to full body, juicy tannins and a fruity finish. Enticing wine. Drink now or hold. 

Decanter | D 91
Published: Mar 3, 2022
Drink: 2022-2025

Open and inviting, this is an elegant, charming claret with a real touch of class. Not big, but accessible and a pleasure to drink. An interesting mix of grapes, including a little Cabernet Franc (2%) and 6% Petit Verdot, with majority Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) and 36% Merlot to add interest; and good volumes produced to keep a sensible price.

The Wine Advocate | RP 88
Published: Apr 30, 2015
Drink: 2015-2027

With a dense, ruby/purple color, low acidity, ripe tannin and well-above-average depth, this is really an elegant, cleanly made, pure style of wine, with floral notes, mixed with blueberry and black cherry. it'smedium-bodied, with light tannin, and is best drunk over the next 10-12 years. 

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 16
Published: Nov 8, 2023
Drink: 2020-2047

Mid, quite lustrous garnet. This is fully mature and the fruit may even be fading, but there's still quite a bit of tannin! Food is needed but there is a core of ripe fruit. Not a bargain but respectable.

Cantemerle.com

2012 TASTING NOTE
A deep ruby color and aromas lightly highlighting vanilla: this is the first impression. In the mouth the wine is all softness and generosity.
This is a classic vintage, soft and supple, full of charm. The palate is predominated by fruit like strawberry and red currant, which evolve to subtle game flavors on the finish. This wine is characterized by an upfront purity and finesse which is already fully satisfying with a cheese soufflé or quiche.
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon 36% Merlot 6% Petit Verdot 2% Cabernet Franc

VINEYARD
92 ha under production
Silica and gravel soils of the quaternary era
60% Cabernet Sauvignon - 30% Merlot - 4% Petit Verdot -
6% Cabernet Franc
Average age of vines : 30 years
Vine density : 8300 plants per hectare

CULTURE AND HARVEST
Pruning : Médoc double Guyot
Deleafing: face to face after flowering (berry set)
Grape thinning is done when the grapes are filling out
Green harvest occurs after changing of color (veraison)
Handpicked harvest with selective sorting in the vineyard

VINIFICATION AND AGEING
Total destemming
The grapes are hand-sorted before crushing
Fermentation: 6-8 days at 26 -28°C
Maceration: 28 -30 days
Ageing for 12 months in french oak barrels(medium toast)
which 40% are new
An ultra light fining is done but no filtration occurs prior to
bottling

PRODUCTION
400 000 bottles