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Chateau Cantemerle Haut-Medoc 2019

$4899

Cantemerle embodies the traditions we love about Bordeaux, and it manages to deliver real value while doing it. Classified Fifth Growth in 1855 (though critic John Gilman argues it should really be a Third), the château sits on the wrong side of Margaux's border — the same gravelly Haut-Médoc terroir, none of the cachet or the price. They are one of the few estates still vinifying most of their grand vin in concrete vats. They never adopted the modern playbook: no malolactic in barrique, no slashing of Cabernet Sauvignon, no fashionable wall of new oak. The result is one of the only Grand Cru Classés that can honestly be called traditionalist Bordeaux — intense, with that particular Cantemerle balance of luxury and hard-assery. The 2019 is a beautiful vintage to taste it in.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

91 points

"The 2019 Cantemerle is a very pretty and understated wine. Sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange, spice, tobacco, leather and dried herbs all grace this expressive Haut-Médoc. The 2019 is super classy from start to finish, but there is a bit less depth and overall substance than there was at the outset."

Robert Parker

92 points

"Opening in the glass with notions of rich berry fruit, licorice, cedar, violets and loamy soil, the 2019 Cantemerle is medium to full-bodied, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and powdery tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. This shut down a little after bottling (some 11 months ago at the time of writing), but it is beginning to bounce back to reveal a wine of real charm and character." —William Kelley

Decanter

94 points

"Green pepper and herbaceous notes on the nose with minty eucalyptus alongside ripe cherry and blackcurrant aromas - so classic. A lovely mouthfeel here, smooth, well defined and preise. Quite direct, serious and darkly fruited - such a concentrated core - but with smooth tannins, a soft sweetness and freshness that lifts the overall frame. Balanced with succulence. Makes a lasting impact and impression. A great value pick."

Wine Spectator

90 points

"Very direct in feel, offering plum and cherry puree notes gilded with violet and anise hints. Shows a graphite accent on the finish, which adds depth as the fruit blossoms around it. Solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc."

Wine Enthusiast

95 points

"Barrel Sample. This grand classed growth has produced a richly structured wine that is balanced by ripe black fruits. It shows spice from the touch of Petit Verdot in the blend, as well as fine acidity and freshness that give it poise and a vibrant finish."

More about Chateau Cantemerle

Every wine professional has an "Epiphany Bottle"—the single wine that flicked the switch from "this is a nice beverage" to "I need to dedicate my life to this." For one of the founding partners of Flatiron Wines (Jeff), that bottle was Château Cantemerle 1989. He drank it nearly 30 years ago, and he still talks about it today (and even occasionally manages to find a pristine bottle to drink).

Although not nearly as fancy as a First Growth, that bottle nonetheless seemed like an expensive indulgence to Jeff back in the 1990s. And here’s the amazing thing: 30 years later, you can buy recent, top vintages of Cantemerle for exactly the same price that he paid way back when.

Cantemerle’s secret is geography. It is labeled Haut-Médoc, and if you look at the Bordeaux map, you will see that the Haut-Médoc is mostly an appellation that extends north of St-Estèphe up towards the mouth of the Gironde. But that is not where Cantemerle is located. A tiny strip of the appellation runs alongside the great villages of the southern Médoc, and it turns out that Cantemerle sits right on the border with Margaux. It has the same deep, fine gravels that define its famous neighbor, and those soils produce the same floral, silky, and intensely aromatic wines.

Since Jeff’s epiphany bottle, Cantemerle has remained true to itself. While many châteaux spent the 2000s chasing scores with high extraction and new oak, Cantemerle stayed the course. This is an old school claret. It is never overly polished or flashy. It relies on charm, fresh acidity, and savory complexity rather than sheer power.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Other Regional Grapes , Red Blend

  • Vintage

    2019

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Traditional

  • Style

    Earthy

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Rack of lamb with herbs, grilled hanger steak with bordelaise, duck confit, or a roast leg of lamb.

Tasting Profile

Medium to full-bodied and structured. Blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and a touch of cool earth; firm but fine tannins, fresh acidity, and a long savory finish.

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