After belonging to the Villeneuve (1576-1892) and Dubos (1892-1980) families, Château Cantemerle was acquired by a major mutual insurance company, the SMABTP (Les Mutuelles d’Assurance du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics), in 1981. The winemaking facilities were completely renovated and Cantemerle now enjoys a privileged position among the classified growths in the Haut-Médoc appellation. Human know-how makes the most of the estate's considerable natural blessings. The grapes are handpicked and carefully sorted. Small lots from individual vineyard plots are fermented separately in wide, low, wooden vats for the slow, gentle extraction of tannin. The wine is then aged in oak barrels for twelve months and lightly fined before château bottling. ©ugcb
