Chateau Cantelys Pessac Leognan Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Cantelys, Pessac Leognan with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

In 1994, Florence and Daniel Cathiard, the owners of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte purchased the little-known gem of Chateau Cantelys, located in the Pessac Leognan appellation from Dominique Lurton. After taking over the estate, they began an intensive renovation program of the chateau and replanting of the vineyard.

Due to the terroir being susceptible to frost damage, they had to invest a lot of money there. As they were situated close to so many trees, they uprooted much of the surrounding forest land, removed trees, and installed numerous wind machines, to help add more ventilation to the vineyards.

If that was not enough, they also replanted much of the vineyard. The entire estate of Chateau Cantelys is 40 hectares, but much of the property is not cultivated with vines. In fact, half of the estate is devoted to forest land and greenery.

The Cathiard family sold Chateau Cantelys to the Helfrich family. The Helfrich family is well-known in the wine trade for owning vineyards in Alsace, and in other French wine regions. They are also the founders of Grands Chais de France, which owns a myriad of vineyards in France as well as negociant companies in Bordeaux. Their holdings include Chateau du Cartillon Haut Medoc and Chateau Cantin in St. Emilion as well as Chateau du Tertre in the Margaux appellation.

Chateau Cantelys Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 40-hectare Cantelys vineyard has 20 hectares planted with vines. 15 hectares used for red wine grapes which are planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. This is a marked change in the vineyard with more Cabernet Sauvignon and the removal of the Cabernet Franc.

For Canteleys Blanc, 5 hectares of vines are planted to white wine grape varieties, 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Semillon. Though there might be a few Sauvignon Gris vines lingering in the vineyard.

For the red wine grapes, on average, the vines are 21 years of age. The terroir is mostly gravel with some clay in the soil. To produce the red wine of Chateau Cantelys, the grapes are whole berries fermented in large, oak vats and aged in 25% new, French oak barrels. On average, the production is close to 6,000 cases produced here each year of Chateau Cantelys rouge.

For the white Bordeaux wine grapes, the terroir is gravel-based with more clay, which is better for white wine varietals. The wine is produced by the same team that manages the production at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.

In fact, the wine is made at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. To make the white Bordeaux wine of Chateau Cantelys, vinification takes place in 50% new, French oak barrels. There is no skin contact or malolactic fermentation.

The wine is aged on its lees with stirring in the same 50% new, French oak barrels before bottling 10 months later. On average, close to 2,000 cases of wine are produced in each vintage of Chateau Cantelys Blanc.

The best vintages of Chateau Cantelys are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2009. However, it is important to note that there are years when the red wine is better than the white wine and vintages when the white wine is better than the red.

When to Drink Chateau Cantelys, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Cantelys can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Cantelys is usually better with at least 2-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Cantelys offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-9 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Cantelys with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Cantelys is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine will also warm up in the glass as the aromatics develop. Chateau Cantelys is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Cantelys is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

Chateau Cantelys Blanc, the estate’s white wine is the perfect wine to serve with shellfish, sashimi, sushi, all types of seafood, chicken, veal, and cheese.

Chateau Cantelys is a solid example of a great Bordeaux value-priced wine that offers that rare combination of a nice, easy-drinking style, with character and fair prices.

In July 2014, the Cathiard family continued expanding their holdings in Bordeaux with the purchase of Chateau Beauregard in Pomerol and Chateau Bastor Lamontagne in Sauternes. The Pomerol and Sauternes properties were purchased in a partnership between the Moulin Family, the owners of the large, French chain of Galerie Lafayette stores, and the Cathiard Family. They have since sold their interests in Bastor Lamontagne.

www.smith-haut-lafitte.com