1995 Château Cantemerle

Dark rusty colour with lots of development at the rim. Light nose that needed encouragement because the sample was a little cold but eventually some minerals and old pencil sharpenings emerged. Fully resolved tannins and very sweet fruit on the front palate, just gently giving up and making way for a little dryness on the end but this would be a charming bottle at a relatively low price. Cantemerle’s first primeur to be put on the Bordeaux place. Came out at €8. (JR)

Relatively fragrant. Sweet start and then relatively lightweight. Perfectly competent but just a little lacking stuffing in the middle. (JR)

The 1995 does not possess the depth of the 1996, and reveals a more evolved medium ruby color that is already lightening at the edge. Peppery, herb-tinged red currant fruit aromas are pleasant, but uninspiring. This medium-bodied, straightforward wine lacks the depth, dimension, and power of a top-flight classified growth. It will be at its best between 2001-2010.