Since, December 1980, Cantemerle has been owned by insurance company the SMABTP Group, and is headed up by Philippe Dambrine. When they bought it, the vineyard had just 20 hectares in production, but has since grown to 87 hectares of vines. These are planted at a density of 9600 plants per hectare to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc (this last variety has been brought down considerably over the last decade, as at one point it represented a full 23% of the vineyard). The vineyard has not entirely cut into the beautiful park around the estate thankfully – it contains many rare species of trees and plants, and was laid out by Louis-Bernard Fischer, one of the 19^th century’s most celebrated garden designers, who also created the Jardin Public in downtown Bordeaux.