Description
Chateau Cantemerle Haut Medoc 2022
Chateau Cantemerle Haut Medoc 2022 comes from France, Bordeaux, Haut-Médoc, and is a 5eme Grand Cru Classé (Fifth Growth) in the 1855 classification. The estate is renowned for its classic Left Bank style, high-quality gravel soil and excellent value. The 2022 vintage is regarded as one of the outstanding vintages on Bordeaux's Left Bank, alongside 2020, 2019 and 2016 as one of the four best vintages in the last 10 years. This Cantemerle displays layers of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, graphite, black cherry and hints of coffee. It has medium-to-full body, ripe and refined tannins, elegant yet powerful structure, with the classic Haut-Médoc style balanced with modern finesse.
Vinification & Style
Chateau Cantemerle is produced in France, Bordeaux, Haut-Médoc, under AOC Haut-Médoc, and is classified as 5eme Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification. The 2022 blend is Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant (around 60%), with Merlot (around 35%) and small amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (around 5%), reflecting the estate's commitment to traditional Left Bank varieties. The wine is matured in French oak for about 12–15 months, with around 30–40% new barrels, giving cedar, toast, vanilla and spice while retaining the Left Bank's characteristic fruit richness, silkiness and fine line.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep ruby, intense and bright with a glossy sheen, reflecting the ripeness and concentration of the 2022 vintage.
Nose: Blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, tobacco, graphite and hints of coffee and cocoa — a rich, complex nose with Haut-Médoc's characteristic fruity elegance.
Palate: Medium-to-full body, with fresh black and red fruit, and ripe but still firm tannins; acidity keeps the fruit, wood and spice in balance, with a rounded texture. Mid-palate reveals cedar, tobacco, black pepper, cassis, graphite and a touch of coffee, giving a rich, elegant impression but with Cantemerle's typical finesse.
Finish: Long, with black fruit, floral notes, cedar and spice, and tannins still present but beginning to soften; further bottle age will round it out further.
Reviews & Accolades
Jancis Robinson: 92 points — "The 2022 Cantemerle shows ripe black fruit, cedar and spice, medium-to-full body, refined tannins and solid structure, one of the more consistent Haut-Médoc performances."
Wine Enthusiast: 94 points — "The 2022 Cantemerle shows sweet black fruit, cedar and graphite, medium-to-full body, dense and silky texture, one of the most beautiful wines of the vintage."
Greg Sherwood MW: 94 points — "Dense and dark, packed with blue and black berry fruits. Chewy tannins, dry grippy limestone length. Serious."
Overall, the wine is viewed as one of the most attractive value Haut-Médocs in the 2022 Cantemerle lineup, suitable for drinking now and for mid-term ageing (around 10–15 years), with further development of cedar, tobacco and ripe fruit complexity in the bottle.
Serving & Pairing
Decanting: 1–2 hours recommended at this stage.
Serving temperature: 16–18°C.
Food pairing (HK-friendly)
Red meats: Charcoal-grilled rib-eye, sirloin steak, black-pepper beef, braised beef short ribs, grilled lamb chops.
Chinese: Roast goose, soy-sauce chicken, soy-braised short ribs, oxtail stew, slow-braised beef brisket.
Cheese / charcuterie: Comté, mature Cheddar, Gruyère, cured ham, salami.
Special Info
The 2022 vintage on Bordeaux's Left Bank is generally considered outstanding, alongside 2020, 2019 and 2016 as one of the four best vintages in the last 10 years, and Cantemerle in 2022 has been described as elegant, balanced and fruit-forward, meaning it is drinkable now but will gain further complexity with further bottle age. The estate's history stretches back 1,000 years, and it is a Fifth Growth in the 1855 classification, known for high value and consistent quality.
Origin: France, Bordeaux, Haut-Médoc
Type: Red Wine
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, blended with Merlot and small amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc
ABV: 13.5%
Volume: 750ml
