1996 Château Cantemerle Haut-Médoc

Principally Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. For 1996 (as with other vintages), the wine would have undergone fermentation (in vats or traditional oak vats), followed by 12–16 months aging in French oak barrels, with roughly half being new oak.

The 1996 Cantemerle shows deep, slightly softened cassis and blackberry fruit framed by cedar, tobacco leaf, and a touch of forest floor. On the palate it delivers medium- to full-bodied richness with mellowed tannins, earthy underbrush character, and a smooth finish — a mature, honest Médoc that speaks of age, balance, and classic Left Bank structure.

Château Cantemerle dates back many centuries, with documented origins in the Middle Ages and the first written record of its wine production in 1354, making it one of the oldest estates in the Haut-Médoc. WikIt was formally classified as a Fifth Growth in the 1855 classification (added shortly after the original list) and today spans roughly 90 hectares under vine — producing its Grand Vin and two additional cuvées under modernized vinification practices initiated after a major overhaul in the 1980s. Always a top perfomer in its class!