1989 Cantemerle
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Tasting notes
Just a beautiful wine that lives up to its reputation as one of the stellar vintages of Cantemerle, showing what can be achieved on this site. Easy to sink into, charcoal, incense, roses, feathery melted tannins, crystalline quality, pure joy, extremely easy to drink. Pascal Berteau technical director at the time, spent pretty much his whole career here except for a stint at Mouton. A huge yield in 1989, they fermented then moved out the wine out of the vats and put in the next lot of grapes three times! Blend given is plantings in the vineyard at the time. Rebottled in 2000.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
An over-performer that can still make for a shrewd purchase at auction, the 1989 Cantemerle offers up inviting aromas of rich currant fruit, blackberries, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a generous core of fruit, melting tannins, ripe acids and a sapid finish, it's drinking beautifully today.
The 1989 Cantemerle has always been a “plucky” Bordeaux that punches above its weight. This has a blackberry- and boysenberry-scented bouquet, arguably a little monotone compared to the best 1989s but undoubtedly youthful and quite glossy in style. The palate is medium-bodied and very smooth, with a mélange of red and black fruit, quite saturated tannin and a youthful, pastille-like finish. This Cantermerle is giving much pleasure after 30 years, and judging by this showing, it will continue to do so. Tasted at the 1989 Bordeaux dinner at Hatched in London.
Sweet and rich. Very flattering. And still very much alive and kicking. (JR)
About the producer
Owned by SMABTP Insurance since 1980, this estate has been carefully restored to its former glory, expanding its vineyards to the original 90 hectares and producing high-quality wines in line with its status.