The first major release of the 2019 en primeur campaign took everyone by surprise this morning. Popular 5th Growth Pauillac, Pontet Canet, released at £366 per six bottles in bond.
We haven’t tasted the wine but the price certainly looks attractive. It’s down some 30% on last year and is the lowest ex-négociant price for a Pontet Canet since the 2008 vintage. It appears that the Tesserons have taken heed of the economic context and adjusted their sights accordingly. If every Château follows suit we could have quite the campaign on our hands.
Read MoreThis vintage of Pontet Canet will be the last masterminded by long standing Technical Director, Jean-Michel Comme, who pioneered the estate’s conversion to Biodynamics and embrace of the enigmatic concrete egg. That recipe hasn’t always been the most consistent or quintessentially Pauillac but the wines have never been short of personality and charm.
Early indications are that this 2019 is a great parting gift from Jean-Michel. Only James Suckling has released a note (published below) and he’s rated it an eye-catching 98-99 points. The Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perotti-Brown gave us a glimpse of her thoughts via the medium of Instagram, saying, ‘Truly, this is a milestone vintage for Pontet Canet.’ If these early reports turn into widespread critical acclaim then this Pontet Canet is very well priced indeed.
‘A very tight, compact red that shows wonderful precision and definition with lots of blackberries, blueberries, stones and black tea. The sorting and de-stemming was all done by hand. Love the sensibility to this. Superb length and finesse. Subtle and sophisticated. No pumping over and gentle pushing down. Handmade. Very exciting and thought-provoking. Very long. 35% in amphora and the rest in 50% new oak and 15% one-year oak. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. Biodynamic grapes.’ 98-99pts, James Suckling