Certified organic and biodynamic estate

Pontet-Canet Pauillac Mouton Rothschild d’Armailhac

81

Pontet Canet Medoc

AOC Pauillac

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

(Robert Parker’s rating: 93 points)
Pauillac Pontet-Canet

(James Suckling’s rating: 95 points)

Chteau Pontet-Canetis located in the heart of the Pauillac appellation, just south of chteaux Mouton Rothschild and d’Armailhac. It has the poor gravelly soil typical of the greatest vineyards. In fact, the soil has so much gravel and sand that it is difficult to imagine that anything could grow there at all. The 80-hectare (200 acres) estate is predominately planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, the signature variety for the great wines of Pauillac. This demanding grape is perfectly adapted to Pauillac’s climate and soil. It produces full-bodied, well-structured, long-lived wines famous for their finesse and elegance. In keeping with a longstanding Mdoc tradition, it is blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which add a touch of smoothness and charm. In certain vintages, Petit Verdot can also be counted on to contribute complexity.

Pontet-Canet has always been a legendary Mdoc. It is deep ruby-red, crimson, and sometimes almost black colour and has a characteristic bouquet of black fruit (especially blackcurrant), liquorice, and prune as well as fig, cedar, and sometimes cocoa overtones. Pontet-Canet combines power and elegance, as well as concentration and fullness on the palate. Rather sinewy in style, Pontet-Canet is clearly a classical wine with a tannic structure that provides excellent ageing potential.

Appellation:
AOC Pauillac, Bordeaux

Country of Origin:
Bordeaux, France

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Grape Varieties :
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

Tasting Notes:
(Robert Parker’s rating: 93 points)
Lucid purple in color, the bouquet leaps from the glass and yells “Pauillac” – thanks to its graphite seam interwoven through the black fruit. Over ten minutes, tobacco scents join the fray and it develops what you might call “mint fresh” aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied and remains understated on the entry, perhaps exaggerated by the exuberance of the nose. However, there is no question that this is a refined, pure and seamless Pontet-Canet with crme de cassis and cedar inter-layered on the sustained finish.

(James Suckling’s rating: 95 points)
A wine with lots of ripe berries, verging on dried fruits. Full and chewy with ripe, round, chewy tannins. It needs lots of bottle age. A wine of steel. From biodynamically grown grapes, as always. Better than from barrel.