PASSING ON A PLACE
THE ESTATE
At the southern tip of the Médoc peninsula lies the estate of Château Cantemerle: 200 hectares of land, including nearly 100 hectares of preserved nature: woodland, parkland and meadows. Its 98-hectare vineyard thrives on a terroir of deep gravel soils.
Grouped around the château and remarkably preserved since the 1855 Classification, this vineyard forms a terroir of rare geological continuity that gives Cantemerle wines their distinctive identity and elegance.
For several centuries, the estate was owned by the Villeneuve family, and later by the Dubos family. A new chapter began in 1981 when Château Cantemerle was acquired by the French group SMA BTP. As a leading mutual insurance group in the building and public works sector, SMA BTP has supported the estate ever since with a strong commitment to preserving and enhancing this exceptional heritage.
Since 2021, led by Laure Canu, Château Cantemerle has entered a new dynamic phase. Guided by a collective vision and a strong respect for the spirit of the place, the teams share a single ambition: to continuously elevate the quality of the wines while preserving the authenticity of the estate.
This momentum is now expressed through an ambitious transformation programme, including the construction of a high-precision gravity-flow vat room and an underground barrel cellar, both designed with a strong environmental focus.
Faithful to its spirit of hospitality and sharing, Cantemerle also welcomes visitors through a range of wine tourism experiences and a boutique dedicated to the art of living around wine.
Welcome to Cantemerle, where the beauty of the place meets the pleasure of the wine!
THE VINEYARD:
The beating heart of the estate
Set on siliceous gravel soils, the Cantemerle vineyard covers 98 hectares surrounding the château. These gravels were formed by the ancient erosion of the Pyrenees by the Garonne River and are a key component of the Médoc’s great terroirs. Although naturally poor in nutrients, such soils encourage the vine to struggle and therefore to develop deep root systems and produce grapes of remarkable concentration. The gravel also plays a crucial role in ripening: reflecting sunlight and releasing stored heat throughout the night, it helps the fruit reach optimal maturity.
With an average vine age of around 40 years, the vineyard expresses the full character of its terroir.
Cabernet Sauvignon now represents 71% of plantings and thrives in these gravelly soils. The emblematic grape of the Médoc, it brings structure, tension and exceptional ageing potential.
Merlot (18%) adds roundness and generous fruit expression, while Petit Verdot (7%) and Cabernet Franc (4%) add complexity, freshness and subtle spicy notes.
At Cantemerle, the team’s intimate knowledge of each parcel and the meticulous care given to the vineyard result in balanced, elegant wines with fine tannins and remarkable ageing potential.
“The soil is where the expression of our terroir begins.”
THE VAT ROOM:
INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE
In 2025, Château Cantemerle unveils new technical facilities designed by Bordeaux architect Arnaud Boulain (BPM) following three years of work.
This major modernisation project has completely restructured 10,000 m² of buildings while preserving the historic soul of Chateau Cantemerle. It marks a decisive step toward ever greater precision in winemaking, while significantly reducing the estate’s energy footprint.
A parcel-based gravity-flow vat room
dedicated to the wine
The new vat room has been designed for highly precise parcel-by-parcel vinification and nearly triples its size.
A gravity-flow system that limits mechanical handling and preserves the integrity of the grapes.
3,500 m²
Thanks to these 114 stainless-steel vats, each plot (and sometimes even sub-plot) is vinified separately. This detailed approach allows a deeper understanding of the terroir and greater freedom when crafting blends while respecting the identity of each plot.
At Château Cantemerle, vinification follows a gentle philosophy focused on infusion rather than extraction.
Fermentations take place at moderate temperatures with light pumping-over adapted to each vat. This allows a slow diffusion of colour, tannins and aromas, producing wines that are precise, elegant and expressive, where freshness and terroir expression prevail over power.
At Cantemerle, winemaking is never about force but a quest for balance guided by time and observation.
THE CELLARS:
An eco-responsible, energy-efficient wine cellar
The “grand vin” is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 35% of which are new. The tannins of the grapes from the oldest vines slowly refine in contact with the noble compounds of oak sourced from centuries-old forests. After ageing, the wine is blended and returned to vats where it rests for four months before bottling.
Eco-designed, the entire facility is supplied with hot and cold water through a geothermal loop powered by water from the estate’s pond, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Entirely underground and naturally temperature-regulated, the new barrel cellar provides optimal ageing conditions:
2,500 m²
CAPACITY FOR UP TO 2,000 BARRELS
GRAVITY FILLING
FOR A GENTLE RESPECTFUL TRANSFER
OF THE WINE INTO BARRELS
THE ART OF PRESS WINE
Representing around 14%, press wine plays a key role in bringing depth and complexity to the wine. Tasted barrel by barrel, it is carefully selected to refine the structure and extend the length of the finish.
Thanks to these new facilities, Château Cantemerle now has the tools to elevate each vintage while preserving the natural balance of the wine.
“A new era begins faithful to the spirit of the estate: precision, elegance and sustainability.”
SUSTAINABLE COMMITMENT
In 2023, Château Cantemerle earned the “Cultivons Demain” CSR certification from the CIVB (Bordeaux Wine Council). This distinction reflects a comprehensive vision integrating environmental responsibility, social commitment and strong regional roots. This approach is expressed through:
– For our employees: fulfilling working conditions and support for professional development
– For our region: strong ties with local stakeholders and the promotion of cultural heritage
– For our partners: relationships built on trust, transparency and long-term balance
– For the environment: preservation of soils, biodiversity and natural resources
Château Cantemerle’s ambition is clear: combine excellence, responsibility and knowledge transmission in order to build a sustainable estate that future generations will continue to nurture.
Interview
with Éric Boissenot, consultant oenologist at Château Cantemerle
since 2005
“This new vat room, completed in 2025, represents a true step forward for Cantemerle. It marks a renewal and gives new momentum to the estate. It will allow us to be much more selective and to reveal the richness of Cantemerle’s Cabernet Sauvignons with even greater precision.
These Cabernet Sauvignons have remarkable character and soul. They bring tension, energy and form the backbone of the wine.”
PHOTOS OF THE ESTATE
