Sometimes a wine on a pop and pour is perfect. Think 2021 Result of a Crush Syrah but or 2016 Alexander Valley Cyrus. But sometimes day 1 is not good and you wonder what others were drinking and thinking. This wine improved on day 4/5 but still would not buy again but is a testament to being patient with wine.
- 2016 Château Cantemerle – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc (7/2/2024)
Day 1: Cool to see another 3-day review on this wine and it will need 3 days to improve as it is terrible on a pop and pour. Water, roasted Chesnuts, dust and damp earth. Fruit is lacking big time and super short finish. A complete bust. 79 points
Day 2: Well, did this improve yes. Is it a wine I would buy again at day 2 stage no. Smoke, roasted Chesnuts, sour cherry, earth a shorter finish. Lacks concentration and thin. 84 points
Day 3: Improving again. One of the better transformations. The fruit is more present now and the watered down feel of the wine is gone. Blueberries, dark cherry, roasted Chesnuts, earth, gravel and minerals. Far from a I would buy it again but the transformation is alarming. Will do 4 day wine review on this one. 88 points
Day 4: Tried to get the max out of this one and holding firm on day 4 at 88 points. While not a bad Bordeaux certainly would not back up the truck as so many other values out there for less. 88 points
Day 5: The rare day 5 review. Decant size glass left as many better wines consumer since day 1 but have to say it has held up to the 88 points. Sour cherry, wood, earth, minerals and gravel. Nothing off the charts but for sure would be a good value at $19.99 instead of the $33 I paid for this which is $7 less than the Tracker average. 88 points
Recommendation: Hold for five years and hope it gets better. (88 points)