Chateau Cantermerle
Chateau Cantemerle is the second of the first well-known Bordeaux estates you see as you start the drive along the D2, heading towards the Medoc, just after Chateau La Lagune. Chateau Cantemerle is also one of the oldest properties in the Bordeaux wine region. Although devoted to the production of wine since the 16th century, Cantemerle was the worst hit of all the Medoc classified growths during the phylloxera crisis, and the vines were subsequently attacked by downy mildew between 1879 and 1887. Consequently, the annual production of Chateau Cantemerle was slashed by 50%, as many of the vines were dead and the vineyard needed replanting. In 1892, the descendants of the last of the Villeneuve family, Jeanne Armande, Baroness Charles d’Abbadie, sold Chateau Cantemerle to the Dubos family after owning the estate for over three hundred years. The last family owner, Bertrand Clauzel sold Chateau Cantemerle in 1981 to the SMABTP group.
At the time of the purchase, Chateau Cantemerle was in serious need of restoration. 40 hectares of vines, close to 50% of the estate needed replanting. In 1999, the new owners purchased 20 hectares of vines from Domaine du Moines Nexon, increasing the size of the Chateau Cantemerle. Other improvements were made in the cellars and the winemaking facilities. The SMABTP Group has continued to increase their holdings in Bordeaux with purchases in the Right Bank too.
Today the 108 hectare Left Bank vineyard of Cantemerle has 92 hectares under vine and is planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.
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