Château Cantemerle

Records of Cantemerle as a lordship date to the 12th century, with wine production documented from 1354. The estate grew into a major wine operation from the 15th century onward, passing through the Villeneuve family from 1579 to 1892 and then the Dubos family until 1980. In 1855, Caroline de Villeneuve-Durfort lobbied successfully for the estate's inclusion in the Bordeaux Classification, making Cantemerle the only addition to the original list in September 1855. This remained the sole change to the 1855 Classification for over 110 years, until Mouton Rothschild's elevation in 1973. The SMABTP insurance group purchased the estate in 1981 for 25 million francs and undertook a massive restoration in the years following.

• Wine production documented from 1354, with lordship records from the 12th century
• Added to the 1855 Classification in September after initial omission, the only such addition for 110+ years
• Villeneuve family ownership from 1579-1892, followed by Dubos family until 1980
• SMABTP Group has owned the estate since 1981 and funded extensive restoration

Cantemerle sits in the southern Médoc near the villages of Macau and Ludon, approximately 35 minutes from downtown Bordeaux and one of the first major properties encountered on the Route D2 heading north. The estate covers 190 hectares in total, with 87 hectares currently under production. Soils are classic Left Bank silica-gravel of quaternary origin, featuring pebbles, dark sand, larger stones, and gravel with varying sandy compositions. A maritime climate with temperate summers moderates the growing season. The 56 vineyard parcels span two communes, and vine age averages 30 years, with some Cabernet Sauvignon parcels reaching 70 years old.

• Silica-gravel quaternary soils with pebbles, dark sand, and larger stones
• Maritime climate with temperate summers, typical of the Left Bank
• 56 separate parcels across two communes, averaging 30-year-old vines
• Estate park covers 28 hectares, designed by Louis-Bernard Fischer

Fermentation at Cantemerle employs a combination of 24 wooden vats, 10 stainless steel tanks, and 7 cement vats. The grand vin is aged for 12-16 months in French oak barrels, with 40-50% new oak. Since the 1980s, the estate has steadily increased its Cabernet Sauvignon percentage, reducing Cabernet Franc from 24% to just 6% through grafting. The resulting wines are described as complex and refined, offering fullness without heaviness. Aromas center on black fruit, cedar, tobacco, and spice, with an elegant bouquet. The wines are built to age, with a drinking window of 8-20 years.

• Fermentation in 24 wooden vats, 10 stainless steel tanks, and 7 cement vats
• 12-16 months aging in 40-50% new French oak
• Cabernet Franc reduced from 24% to 6% since the 1980s through grafting
• Second wine, Les Allées de Cantemerle, accounts for roughly 12,500 cases annually

The estate won a silver medal at the 1867 World Fair in Paris. Its name derives from the Gascon words 'canta' (to sing) and 'merle' (blackbird), a reference to the blackbirds that inhabited the estate grounds. The name is fitting for a property surrounded by a 28-hectare park designed by Louis-Bernard Fischer, giving Cantemerle a distinctive character among Médoc classified growths.

• Silver medal at the 1867 World Fair in Paris
• Name means 'singing blackbird' from Gascon 'canta' and 'merle'
• Phylloxera devastated the estate from 1879-1887, causing 50% production losses
• Produces approximately 25,000 cases of grand vin each vintage