Chateaux Cantemerle Haut Medoc

   The 93.8 hectare Left Bank vineyard of Cantemerle is planted to 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Cabernent Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. However, that was not always the case. Until the late 1980’s, the vineyards of Chateau Cantermerle were planted with 24% Cabernet Franc! It was on the advice of Philippe Dambrine, the managing director until 2013, that the Cabernet Franc be reduced. It is the goal of the estate to continue increasing the precentage of Cabernet Sauvignon over time. On average the vines are close to 30 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density is 9,600 vines per hectare. The terroir is mostly sand and gravel soils.

   To produce the wine of Chateau Cantemerle, vinification takes place in a combination of conical, shaped wood vats and stainless steel tanks. The tanks vary in size from 100 hectoliters to 180 hectoliters. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The better parcels are always vinified in the stainless steel vats. The wine is aged in 40% to 50% new French oak barrels for between 12 to 16 months, depending on the vintage. There is a second wine, Les Allees de Cantemerle. The average annual production of Chateau Cantemerle is about 25,000 cases per year.