Château de Camensac

In the glass

Aroma: cassis, blackberry, truffle, cedar spice, menthol

Palate: rich cherry, polished tannins, fresh structure, dark fruit concentration

A revived Fifth Growth finding its stride under the Merlaut family: Cabernet-forward Haut-Médoc structure with dark fruit, cedar and characteristic menthol freshness from deep gravel soils near Saint-Julien.

What it pairs with

• Rack of lamb with rosemary and garlic
  The wine's cedar and dark fruit structure complement the herb-forward minerality of roasted rack of lamb.
• Beef daube with root vegetables
  The wine's firm structure and dark fruit gain complexity from slow-cooked beef with earthy root vegetables.
• Mushroom and truffle risotto
  Earthy truffle and mushroom umami resonate with the wine's truffle-inflected nose and dark fruit.

History

Château Camensac was classified in 1855 but fell into decline. The Forner family of La Rioja bought it in 1964 and revived it with the advice of Emile Peynaud. In 2005, the Merlaut-Villars family took over and launched a substantial replanting and winery modernisation programme, pushing quality steadily upward.

1. 1855 — Classified as Cinquième Cru Classé in the Bordeaux 1855 Classification
2. 1964 — Forner family acquires and revives the estate with Emile Peynaud's advice
3. 2005 — Merlaut-Villars family purchase and begin extensive replanting and modernisation

Facts

Producer

Château de Camensac

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (40%)

Classification

Haut-Médoc AOC, Cinquième Cru Classé (1855)

Oak

35-70% new French oak barrels, 17-20 months

ABV

13.0%

Production

240,000 bottles

Price

€30-55 at retail

Drinking window

6-18 from vintage

First vintage

1964

Scores

• Wine Advocate 91 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2023)
• Wine Advocate 90 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)

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