Cantemerle Vertical 2005, 2009, 2010 Tasting

The wine primarily features a well-balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Merlot, complemented by a smaller amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It showcases a deep ruby colour and a refined bouquet with notes of mixed black fruit, sweet spices, and pepper. The wines from these 3 good years offer a round, solid, and harmonious taste with good complexity, a long finish, and a delicate palate, providing excellent value. It has a medium to medium-deep ruby-red colour and presents good, fresh acidity and balanced alcohol, although the finish is affected by astringent tannins. It still maintains good fruit character with a silky finish. All bottles are currently available.

JS has awarded the 2005 vintage an impressive 93 points, showcasing its exceptional quality. This wine reveals wonderful depth and complexity on the nose, with prominent notes of blueberries, fresh flowers, and hints of stones. It is a full-bodied wine with ultra-refined tannins and a long finish. Although it is already stunning, it is expected to further improve with age. RP scored it 91, and Stazer awarded it 90, reaffirming its consistently high quality across different reviewers.

The 2009 vintage, acclaimed with 93 points by GG, is a strong contender. It boasts an intense garnet-red hue and a profound nose of ripe red fruits subtly enhanced by lightly roasted oak. The wine makes a full, generous, and fruit-forward entry, with a delicious fruit expression supported by pronounced exuberance and a good-length finish despite a slight touch of greenness.

The 2010 vintage receives its highest acclaim, scoring 95 points from Waterfront. It presents distinctive notes of wet forest, truffle, tobacco, cedar, and cassis on the nose. The palate offers vibrant black raspberries, cherries, and spicy cassis. This classically built wine, while still young, would benefit from at least 5-7 more years in the cellar. It has been awarded 93 points.