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

    Château Pontet Canet, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2021

    95/100
    Inside Bordeaux
    94/100
    The Wine Independent
    93/100
    Vinous
    Available Vintages
    portfolio
    1. 2021

      6x75cl

      DP

      £548.74

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note

    In one sense Pontet Canet 2021 is a huge success. The team here overcame huge mildew pressure, always a challenge for biodynamically farmed estates. Justine Tesseron explained that their teas (herbal treatments) were largely effective - only 15% of the crop was lost, a huge improvement on years like 2016 and 2018. The wine itself is less triumphant. Initially a block of oak. Totally impenetrable and dominated by tannins. Dark and brooding, there are hints of dried raspberry poking through the overriding notes of coffee granules, dark earth and nori. You have to look quite hard, but there is some quality fruit here, and there is acidity, but the dryness is so domineering. It proved divisive in our team. Some felt this will resolve and come good, others didn't see a future. Time will tell... 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot. 50% new oak, 35% amphora, 15% one year old barrels.

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    Critic Reviews

    94/100
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown,
    The Wine Independent
    The 2021 Pontet-Canet is deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly unfurls to reveal expressive notes of crunchy black cherries, fresh blueberries, and black raspberries, leading to suggestions of wet slate, black olives, rose petals, and cardamon. The light to medium-bodied palate is bright and lively, with wonderfully pure black fruit and mineral-inspired flavors and a fine-grained texture, finishing with a floral lift.
    drinking window 2026 - 2050
    date of review 04/2024
    93/100
    Neal Martin,
    Vinous
    The 2021 Pontet Canet, which contains a little more Petit Verdot than usual, was bottled in July. It has a very attractive bouquet with pure black fruit, cedar and light iris flower scents. It is not powerful, yet there is elegance here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a crisp line of acidity. Just a hint of mocha lurks in the background, but there is a satisfying, almost citric freshness toward the finish. Suggestions of graphite linger on the aftertaste. I have not spared Pontet Canet from criticism in recent vintages, but that said, I really warmed to this 2021, and it should age with style.
    drinking window 2025 - 2050
    date of review 02/2024
    95/100
    Jane Anson,
    Inside Bordeaux
    Bright berry red in colour, nuanced blackberry and loganberry with bitter black chocolate notes from the first attack. Lovely precision, good level of spice, earthy, unfussy, rose stem and blackcurrant bud. This was the third vintage with mildew pessure, but the team are now experienced, and I can attest to seeing the vines during harvest and remarking on how healthy they looked, with no-till farming helping concentration. Plenty of tannins give structure and are shot through with sinew and juice, this is an impressive wine from technical director Mathieu Bessonet, with Pauillac typicity. Harvest 24 september until 12 October. 50% new oak, 35% amphora, 15% one year barrels, 15% press (aged in the amphora).
    drinking window 2026 - 2044
    date of review 05/2022

    product details

    Specifications

    Country:
    France
    Region:
    Bordeaux
    Appellation:
    Pauillac
    style:
    Red Wine
    Grape Variety:
    Cab Sauvignon Merlot
    abv:
    13.5%

    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.