Château Pontet Canet, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac
    Château Pontet Canet

    Château Pontet Canet, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac,

    Destination

    Château Pontet Canet, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2005

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note
    Château Pontet Canet, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2005

    Pontet Canet’s 80ha of vines neighbour Mouton’s, and you should by now be aware of its emergence as one of the most exciting properties in the Médoc, and one of the best quality wines, regardless of price. The attention that has been lavished on the vineyards by Alfred Tesseron since he took over full control of the property just a few years ago is now being turned to the cuvier, where a rank of brand new cement tanks, shaped like truncated cones and resembling the landing capsules of the Apollo space mission, will further increase the quality of the wines by aiding pigeage. (Unlined cement, as opposed to the resin or glass-lined tanks widely used pre-stainless steel, has now been superseded by unlined cement in numerous châteaux.) At 35hl/ha, the 2005 could be the lowest-cropped cru classé in Pauillac. It contains 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, with some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and is an exercise in “precision winemaking”: very dark ruby with an ample and profound nose of cassis, mint, cedar and minerals, all laid over big, big fruit. It has a delicious attack on the palate, blackcurrant rich, very balanced (despite high alcohol and high acidity) with a spicy hint on the finish, incredibly rich but still very fresh, and just goes on and on. Understandably, an unusually low 30% of this wine will be relegated to the second label, Les Hauts de Pontet.

    Maturity:
    Keep/Drink
    ABV:
    13%
    97/100
    Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
    At 11 years old this remains young, textured, layered, powerful, even a touch of gunsmoke reduction on the first nose. As it opens, this is fruit-forward, packed with sweet black cherry, juicy and fleshy laced with cinammon, aniseed and graphite, ready to drink but will go another few decades. Brilliant stuff, full of Pauillac character but served up with a smile. The estate was in organic conversion at this point, not yet certified, but had been working organically allmost entirely since 2004 (with the 2007 hiccup that meant resetting the conversion process). Served from a jeroboam, so inevitably a little younger than you would find this vintage from a bottle.
    Date Reviewed:
    10/2021
    Drinking Window:
    2021 - 2042
    95/100
    Neal Martin, Vinous
    The 2009 Pontet-Canet needs more encouragement from the glass than its peers, but it rewards the imbiber with seductive pure cassis and blackberry fruit, touches of autumn leaves and pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but fine tannin, a lovely bead of acidity. A harmonious, brown spice and smoke tinged finish fans out with confidence. You could open this now but it still has two more decades of drinking pleasure to give. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.
    Date Reviewed:
    03/2019
    Drinking Window:
    2022 - 2042

    specifications

    country:
    France
    region:
    Bordeaux
    Appellation:
    Pauillac
    Producer:
    Château Pontet Canet
    style:
    Red Wine
    Grape Variety:
    Cab Sauvignon Merlot
    Allergen Information:
    This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.