Happy Labor Day holiday weekend in the USA!
We’re enjoying a night off from studying while sipping a lovely Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2011 paired with a grilled steak, baked potato, green beans, and mushroom / zucchini kabobs. Soon (and sadly) we’ll have to say “au revoir” to summer.
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is situated on the left bank of Bordeaux, i.e., west of the Gironde Estuary, in the commune of Pauillac. Soils here are gravel-based, and free-draining, ideal for ripening the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grape, which dominates in this Bordeaux blend.
Pauillac is known for producing age-worthy, structured Cabernet Sauvignon wines due in part to the growing environment. No wonder it’s home to 3 out of 5 first growth wines in the 1855 classification, including, Château Latour, Château Lafite Rothschild, and Château Mouton Rothschild. This particular wine ranks highly, as well, as a fifth growth and understandably so.
Based on our research the 2011 vintage in Bordeaux seemed to fast-forward many typical growing processes and timelines; grapes were budding and ripening ahead of schedule with warmer temperatures early in the season followed by notably cooler temperatures in August, ahead of harvest.
It’s remarkable how variable seasonal conditions can affect a wine’s profile, especially in less consistent climates like Bordeaux where vintage variation is a serious thing… still, this wine is lovely.
It is deep ruby with a medium (+) intensity of developing aromas offering notes of ripe blackberry, cassis, black cherry, plum, black licorice, anise, violet, tobacco, leather, clove, nutmeg, cedar, pencil shavings.
On the palate, this wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, high tannins that are ripe and smooth, a medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity of flavors consistent with the notes. The finish is medium(+).
This is an excellent wine that is drinking well now and could age further.
Cheers to the beauty born in 2011 in Pauillac AOC with this Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste! — 3 years ago

Really delicious. — 6 years ago
Delicious! — 6 years ago
2/2019 CH Wine Club — 7 years ago
Full bodied with a good amount of spice and dark fruit flavor..,paired well with grilled NY strip steaks with sweet potato. — 7 years ago
Paired with grilled salmon, salad & pasta.
A nice Friday night. — 9 months ago
Vinho Branco 2021 - very good, smooth buttery mouthfeel but still has a crisp taste. Strong enough to go with spicy meaty dishes even for a white. — 2 years ago
Favorite of Jacob and me — 4 years ago
It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a beautiful one from Bordeaux.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs and black pepper.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, earth, wet leaves, herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, dark chocolates and tobacco leaf.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 7 year old, from the great 2015 vintage, is drinking very nice right now.
This Fifth growth Bordeaux is showing nice complexity, with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours in the decanter.
Young, but already delicious, and will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.
Robert Parker 97 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.
A Delicious wine that drank better than the 1996 I had 4 years ago.
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels (50% new) for 16 months.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$130. — 4 years ago
This is very good wine for price. Good tanin full body not strong in acid but enjoyable — 6 years ago
Cinquiemes Cru, Fifth growth Margaux very supple and approachable. I always pick a wine with the Chateau depicted on the label. Shows they are proud. Sir Winston Pub, Lille, France — 7 years ago
Would absolutely buy again. Great value. Total Wine. — 8 years ago
Château Cantemerle 2023 – Haut-Médoc, BDX, France 🇫🇷
Overview
A beautifully expressive Left Bank blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 71%, Merlot 18%, Petit Verdot 7%, and Cabernet Franc 4% that delivers immediate charm while retaining classic Haut-Médoc structure and aging potential. The wine shows vibrant fruit purity, polished tannins, and a well-judged touch of oak, making it approachable young yet capable of evolving gracefully over the coming decade.
Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plum layered with subtle cedar, vanilla spice, graphite, and a gentle floral lift. Fresh berry brightness carries through the palate, framed by light savory notes and a refined oak accent that enhances rather than dominates.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with supple texture and finely integrated tannins. Juicy, energetic entry with excellent balance between fruit concentration and freshness. Smooth mid-palate flow and a clean, persistent finish that stays lively and inviting.
Food Pairings
Grilled steak, roast chicken, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, charcuterie boards, aged Gruyère or Comté, and classic bistro fare. A versatile table wine that shines across a wide range of savory dishes.
🍷 Personal Pick
Cantemerle never disappoints, this is pure drinking pleasure wrapped in Bordeaux elegance. Juicy, polished, and instantly enjoyable, yet grounded with just enough structure to remind you why Haut-Médoc remains timeless. A perfect bottle when you want serious pedigree without serious effort.
Did You Know?
Château Cantemerle is classified as a Fifth Growth in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification and is known for producing some of the most consistently approachable and age-worthy wines of the Médoc, often offering outstanding value relative to its pedigree. — 9 months ago
Really delicious blend,medium bodied, very vibrant wine that is hard to put down. Great value. — 6 years ago
Sweet, apple. Really good room temp. — 6 years ago
So surprising — 7 years ago
Good consistent vodka — 8 years ago
Anil Saxena
Really excellent blend. supple, tannins, lots of great deep fruit. — 4 months ago