Chateau Camensac Haut Medoc Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Camensac Haut Medoc Fifth Growth producer with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Camensac History, Overview

Today, Chateau Camensac is perhaps, one of the more obscure, 1855 Classified Growths in the Medoc. The original chateau which is still in use today was constructed in the 18th century. Chateau Camensac was purchased by the Forner family in 1965.

The Forner family first became active in winemaking in Spain, where they own the popular, Marques de Caceres winery. Marques de Caceres is located in the Rioja appellation of Spain. Their experience in the Spanish wine trade proved helpful in knowing what to do next, which was to renovate the estate and replant their vineyards.

They also modified the estate’s name slightly in 1988 when they changed it from, Chateau de Camensac to just Chateau Camensac. They also hired the successful wine consultant Michel Rolland as well. Michel Rolland does not consult Chateau Camensac today.

In 2005, Chateau Camensac was purchased by Jean Merlaut and his niece, Celine Villars Loubet. In 2014, Claire Thomas-Chenard joined the team as the director of the estate. Claire Thomas-Chenard is well-known for her work at Chateau Soutard and Chateau Larmande in St. Emilion.

Chateau Camensac Vineyard, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 65-hectare, Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Camensac is planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Previously, the vineyard featured other Bordeaux grape varieties, but based on the suggestion of Emile Peynaud, they reduced the number of different grape varietals to just two, which is what remains planted in their vineyard today.

Currently, the estate is slowly working on replanting the entire program which began in 2007, replanting up to 5 hectares at a time. By 2020, the average age of the vines was young. However, as the vines continue to age, this should become a much better wine.

Chateau Camensac is situated slightly east of the southern tip of St. Julien appellation. In fact, their vineyards are not that far from Chateau Beychevelle. They are also close to other well-known Medoc vineyards including Chateau La Tour Carnet and Chateau Belgrave. The terroir of Chateau Camensac is mostly gravel-based soil. They have gentle slopes in the vineyards that reach up to 23 meters at their peak.

The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 10,000 vines per hectare. The goal is to maintain the average vine age at about 35 years of age. Picking is conducted using a combination of machine harvesting and manual pickers. Since 2016, the property has slowly been converting its farming to organic methods.

The vinification of Chateau Camensac takes place in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation is performed in a combination of vat and barrel. The wines of Chateau Camensac are aged for an average of 17 to 20 months in French, oak barrels that range from 35% to 70% new, French oak, depending on the character and the needs of the vintage.

The estate also produces a second wine, previously called La Closerie de Camensac. The second wine has been aptly renamed Second de Camensac. The average annual production of Chateau Camensac is close to 20,000 cases per vintage.

The best vintages of Chateau Camensac are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2010 and 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Chateau Camensac, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Camensac needs some time before it can be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1-2 hours, 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 Camensac is usually better with at least 6-9 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Camensac offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 7-17 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Camensac, with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Camensac 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 of Chateau Camensac is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

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

www.chateaucamensac.com

Château de Camensac Wine Tasting Notes

16 Vintages 64,445 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
91
Currants, blackberries, cedar and tobacco leaf work perfectly here. The wine has ample fruit and freshness with a savory edge to the currant and cranberry finish. A year or two in the cellar will add even more to the wine. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts.

Currants, blackberries, cedar and tobacco leaf work perfectly here. The wine has ample fruit and freshness with a savory edge to the currant and cranberry finish. A year or two in the cellar will add even more to the wine. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts.

1,623 Views   Tasted
2020
90
Cedar, tobacco, spice, herbs and peppery, red currants combine on the nose and chewy palate. The palate, with its savory edge, tobacco and chewy fruit offers a lot of lift and vibrancy in the finish. Drink from 2025-2040.

Cedar, tobacco, spice, herbs and peppery, red currants combine on the nose and chewy palate. The palate, with its savory edge, tobacco and chewy fruit offers a lot of lift and vibrancy in the finish. Drink from 2025-2040.

1,076 Views   Tasted
Spicy, earthy, red fruits, tobacco leaf and cedar are what you initially notice. From there, the medium-bodied wine comes through with sweet, chewy, ripe, bright crunchy red fruits with soft tannins in the mid-palate and in the finish. You should be able to enjoy this with just a few years in the cellar. 88-90 Pts

Spicy, earthy, red fruits, tobacco leaf and cedar are what you initially notice. From there, the medium-bodied wine comes through with sweet, chewy, ripe, bright crunchy red fruits with soft tannins in the mid-palate and in the finish. You should be able to enjoy this with just a few years in the cellar. 88-90 Pts

1,146 Views   Tasted
2019
90
Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and fruity, with a peppery accent to the sweet, ripe, currants and herbs, with a dab of chocolate in the endnote. You can enjoy this with ease on release and over the next decade or longer. Drink from 2022-2032.

Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and fruity, with a peppery accent to the sweet, ripe, currants and herbs, with a dab of chocolate in the endnote. You can enjoy this with ease on release and over the next decade or longer. Drink from 2022-2032.

1,727 Views   Tasted
2018
90
Much better in the bottle than in the barrel, the wine is medium bodied, with a cedar, tobacco and red currant profile. Forward, soft, fresh, fruity and with a classic lean to its chewy, spicy red fruit finish. This is best vintage of Chateau de Camensac I have ever tasted.

Much better in the bottle than in the barrel, the wine is medium bodied, with a cedar, tobacco and red currant profile. Forward, soft, fresh, fruity and with a classic lean to its chewy, spicy red fruit finish. This is best vintage of Chateau de Camensac I have ever tasted.

1,908 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, bright, lean and simple with more cranberry than cassis, this classically styled wine is best to drink early in life. 84-86 Pts

Medium bodied, bright, lean and simple with more cranberry than cassis, this classically styled wine is best to drink early in life. 84-86 Pts

2,920 Views   Tasted
2016
90
Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, crisp, correct, easy-going, vibrant, red currant, and cranberry-filled wine. Drink from 2022-2032.

Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, crisp, correct, easy-going, vibrant, red currant, and cranberry-filled wine. Drink from 2022-2032.

2,960 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, with a cassis and black cherry core of fruit, earth and tobacco, the wine is crisp, crunchy and fresh.

Medium bodied, with a cassis and black cherry core of fruit, earth and tobacco, the wine is crisp, crunchy and fresh.

3,068 Views   Tasted
2015
83
Light, lean, crisp and with more cranberry than cherry, this is on the overly fresh side.

Light, lean, crisp and with more cranberry than cherry, this is on the overly fresh side.

2,763 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, the wine is dominated by its red fruit and cranberry character, leaving you with a crisp, sweet and tart finish. The wine was produced from a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. 85 - 87 Pts

Medium bodied, the wine is dominated by its red fruit and cranberry character, leaving you with a crisp, sweet and tart finish. The wine was produced from a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. 85 - 87 Pts

2,372 Views   Tasted
2014
88
Rustic, in an old school manner, made from a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot, the wine offers fruit and freshness, in the direct, earthy, dark, red berry, finish.

Rustic, in an old school manner, made from a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot, the wine offers fruit and freshness, in the direct, earthy, dark, red berry, finish.

4,020 Views   Tasted
2013
78
Light in color and weight, this bright, cranberry and tart cherry dominated wine requires drinking in its first few years of life.

Light in color and weight, this bright, cranberry and tart cherry dominated wine requires drinking in its first few years of life.

4,110 Views   Tasted
2012
84
Light in color, medium bodied, slightly tart red fruits and short, cranberry finish. The wine was produced from a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Light in color, medium bodied, slightly tart red fruits and short, cranberry finish. The wine was produced from a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon.

1,673 Views   Tasted
Light in color, medium boded, red berry dominated wine, with a lean, bright finish. 83-86 Pts

Light in color, medium boded, red berry dominated wine, with a lean, bright finish. 83-86 Pts

1,948 Views   Tasted
2010
88
Medium bodied with blackberry, cassis, leaf and earthy notes, the wine is bright, fresh and spicy.

Medium bodied with blackberry, cassis, leaf and earthy notes, the wine is bright, fresh and spicy.

4,186 Views   Tasted
2009
88
One of the more obscure classified growths, the 2009 is an open, easy to drink wine with an oak, dark cherry, earth and herb perfume. Medium bodied, with some rusticity to the tannins, this should be better with a few more years of age.

One of the more obscure classified growths, the 2009 is an open, easy to drink wine with an oak, dark cherry, earth and herb perfume. Medium bodied, with some rusticity to the tannins, this should be better with a few more years of age.

4,444 Views   Tasted
2008
85
Crisp red berries, tobacco and coffee bean on the nose, with a light, easy drinking crunchy cassis and cranberry finish. A few more years could add depth to the wine.

Crisp red berries, tobacco and coffee bean on the nose, with a light, easy drinking crunchy cassis and cranberry finish. A few more years could add depth to the wine.

3,971 Views   Tasted
2006
84
Medium bodied, austere, firm, old school styled wine with a crisp, stern, cranberry and cassis finish.

Medium bodied, austere, firm, old school styled wine with a crisp, stern, cranberry and cassis finish.

2,407 Views   Tasted
2005
86
Cherries, cedar, earth and tobacco scents open to a medium/full bodied wine that is on the austere side.

Cherries, cedar, earth and tobacco scents open to a medium/full bodied wine that is on the austere side.

7,132 Views   Tasted
2004
86
Herbal, leaf and cassis and earth aromas, medium bodied, dark red fruits and a dash of bell pepper with some dryness in the finish of this classic styled wine.

Herbal, leaf and cassis and earth aromas, medium bodied, dark red fruits and a dash of bell pepper with some dryness in the finish of this classic styled wine.

2,847 Views   Tasted
2000
89
Medium bodied, firm, slightly rustic, but in a classy way, with fresh cherry, cranberry, earth and a hint of tobacco, this is fully mature.

Medium bodied, firm, slightly rustic, but in a classy way, with fresh cherry, cranberry, earth and a hint of tobacco, this is fully mature.

6,144 Views   Tasted