LET’S TALK – EP.2 – SAISON 2 – CHÂTEAU CANTEMERLE: A PLACE WHERE THE SOUL OF THE ESTATE LIVES THROUGH NATURE, PASSION AND TEAM SPIRIT

Château Cantemerle: Where Nature, Passion and Team Spirit Come Together

Introduction

In this episode of Let’s Talk, our series of intimate conversations dedicated to the leading figures of the Bordeaux wine world, Maritza Cirech sits down with Laure Canu to explore one of the Haut-Médoc’s most iconic estates: Château Cantemerle.

A Fifth Growth in the 1855 Classification, Château Cantemerle holds a unique place within Bordeaux. Nestled in the heart of a magnificent wooded park, the estate is renowned not only for the elegance of its wines but also for the peaceful atmosphere that surrounds it. Here, wine is much more than terroir and expertise—it is above all a human adventure.

Throughout this warm and genuine conversation, Laure Canu shares her vision of an estate where heritage, teamwork and a profound attachment to place shape every decision. More than a vineyard, Cantemerle emerges as a living estate, brought to life by women and men who are deeply devoted to its history.

This exchange highlights a simple yet powerful truth: behind every great wine lies a committed team, a shared energy and an emotion that only time can create.

Through this episode, we continue our mission of giving a voice to the remarkable estates—and to the women and men behind them—in order to better understand the human stories that shape Bordeaux’s finest wines.

Château Cantemerle: A Place Where Time Stands Still

Maritza Cirech: If you had to describe the estate in three words?

Laure Canu: Serenity, timelessness and life.

These three words perfectly capture the identity of Château Cantemerle.

Serenity is the first feeling visitors experience upon arriving at the estate. Surrounded by nature and its remarkable park, Cantemerle offers a peaceful atmosphere that feels worlds away from everyday life.

Its timeless character reflects the impression that time moves differently here. Generations come and go, vintages succeed one another, yet the spirit of Cantemerle remains unchanged.

Finally, the estate is profoundly alive—not only through its natural environment but above all through the people who bring it to life every day.

A First Day That Revealed the Soul of Cantemerle

Maritza Cirech: Do you remember your very first day at the estate?

Laure Canu joined Château Cantemerle in April 2021, during one of the most difficult moments a vineyard can experience: a devastating spring frost.

While the vines were suffering, what struck her most was the extraordinary commitment of the teams.

Faced with adversity, everyone came together with remarkable dedication and genuine emotion.

Looking back, it was not the frost itself that left the strongest impression, but the people.

From her very first day, Laure Canu understood that Cantemerle was far more than a vineyard.

It was a place inhabited by passionate people whose deep connection to the estate is felt in everything they do.

People at the Heart of Every Project

Maritza Cirech: What inspires you every day?

For Laure Canu, the answer comes naturally.

Her greatest source of motivation is the people she works with.

Many members of the team have dedicated twenty or even thirty years of their lives to Château Cantemerle.

Her role today is to help them continue moving forward together, to inspire them every morning and to build new projects alongside them.

At Cantemerle, success is always a collective achievement.

This human dimension is undoubtedly one of the estate’s greatest strengths.

An Estate That Stands the Test of Time

When asked which celebrity best represents Château Cantemerle, Laure Canu surprises everyone with an unexpected answer.

Céline Dion.

Beyond the smile it brings, the comparison carries real meaning.

Like the world-famous singer, Cantemerle has successfully crossed generations while remaining true to itself.

The estate continues to evolve without ever losing its identity.

This rare ability to combine heritage with modernity is one of the defining features of Château Cantemerle.

Revealing the Soul of Cantemerle

Maritza Cirech: What project is closest to your heart?

For Laure Canu, the most important project is not a new winery or a technical innovation.

Her ambition is to reveal the true soul of Château Cantemerle.

This idea comes up repeatedly throughout the conversation.

To her, Cantemerle is a place with its own personality.

A sincere, vibrant estate filled with life.

Her goal is to ensure that every visitor experiences the same emotion she feels every day.

This vision extends far beyond wine itself.

It is about sharing a place, a story and the people who give it meaning.

Spring… and the Magic of Late Afternoons

Maritza Cirech: What’s the most beautiful season at Cantemerle?

Spring naturally comes first.

At this time of year, the estate’s magnificent park reveals its full beauty.

Yet Laure Canu prefers to describe a moment rather than a season.

When the visitors have left, the teams have gone home and the evening sun gently illuminates the château’s white stone walls, everything becomes still.

Leaning against the warm stone, she simply enjoys the silence and the golden light.

These quiet moments perfectly capture the unique atmosphere of Cantemerle.

Some places offer a feeling of peace that words can barely describe.

Great Wine Without Pretence

Maritza Cirech: An unexpected but delicious food pairing with Cantemerle?

The answer is refreshingly simple.

A great burger.

Behind this playful suggestion lies an important message.

Great wines do not have to be reserved for formal dinners or Michelin-starred restaurants.

They can also be enjoyed during relaxed, joyful moments shared with friends.

It is a reminder that pleasure—not protocol—should always come first.

An Estate Built on Togetherness

Beyond everyday work, Château Cantemerle nurtures a genuine sense of community.

The annual pétanque tournament, held after the En Primeur campaign, perfectly illustrates this spirit.

These shared moments allow everyone to celebrate the work accomplished together while strengthening the bonds between the people who make the estate what it is.

This culture of togetherness is an essential part of Cantemerle’s identity.

Château Cantemerle, an Emotion to Experience as Much as to Taste

Through this episode of Let’s Talk, Château Cantemerle emerges as far more than a Fifth Growth of the Haut-Médoc.

The estate embodies a deeply human vision of winemaking, where the quality of the wines is shaped as much by the dedication of its people as by the richness of its terroir.

Through Laure Canu’s words, we discover a property where serenity, heritage and collective spirit come together to create a distinctive identity—one that honours its past while embracing the future.

This conversation reminds us that great wines tell more than the story of a vineyard.

They also tell the story of the women and men who devote their passion, energy and often an entire lifetime to bringing them to life.

Château Cantemerle perfectly embodies this unique combination of nature, commitment and emotion that defines Bordeaux’s finest estates. 

Watch to the conversation between Maritza Cirech and Laure Canu.