Chateau Pontet Canet 2021

VINUM: "Lässt eigentlich erst einmal sprachlos, doch wenn es unbedingt sein muss: Raffinierte, vielschichtige Aromatik von Blüten, Kräutern, besondere Mineralität auch; im Mund von geradezu transzendenter, dichter und doch transparenter Art, grosse Tiefe und Länge dank einmalig feinkörnigem Tannin von mineralischer Frische und absoluter Raffinesse, im Ausklang der reine Eindruck reifer Traubenbeeren."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "97–99. Barrel Sample. The dense color and the perfumed aromas set the scene for a rich wine full of fruit. The balance is already there, complex with structure and dense juicy fruits. The wine is impressive."

WEINWISSER: "58 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 32 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc, 6 % Petit Verdot, 13 Vol.-%. Verzauberndes Bouquet, reife Herzkirsche, Nougatpraline, verzaubernder Iris-Duft, Lakritze und parfümierter Pfeifentabak. Am energiegeladenen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, perfekt balancierter Rasse, sehr vibrierend, engmaschiges reifes Tanningerüst, wie Kakaopulver, perfekt geformter Davidkörper. Im konzentrierten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, erkalteter Earl Grey, fein körnige Adstringenz gepaart mit zarter Bitterness, nicht enden wollendes Rückaroma. Großartige Leistung dieses seit 2005 als erstes Bordeaux-Chateaux biodynamisch arbeitende Gut unter der Führung von Alfred und Tochter Justine Tesseron. Bravo!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "Plenty of blackberry and blueberry with wet earth and crushed stone. Some spice,tobacco and lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with layered tannins and brightness. Fine and chewy at the end."

DECANTER: "Gorgeous fragrance on the nose, so perfumed and floral - really vibrant - you can smell the Cabernet and the Petit Verdot on the nose. Juiciness straight away from a burst of high acidity focused on blackcurrant and black cherry with both a fragrance, spice and minerality following. This really hits you square on - it's not opulent but it’s so fully flavoured, forward and upfront. Tannins are fine-grained but plentiful, they hold the structure and give the frame while the creaminess and freshness gives an expansive aspect to the palate. There's refinement and an aerial quality here despite the clear Pauillac power. The Cabernet fruit is in full shine mode, giving a eucalyptus, perfumed berry and black pepper touch. Structured and supple with grape and terroir characteristics. If you love Pontet, and classic Pauillac claret, this is an impressive reference point. Skilled winemaking from technical director Mathieu Bessonet. 4% Cabernet Franc completes the blend."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The wine opens with flowers, tobacco leaves, currants, herbs, and a touch of spice. Medium/full-bodied, elegant, refined, fresh, and vibrant, there is a gorgeous sense of purity to the red fruits along with vivid freshness and a touch of spice in the endnote. The wine is aging in a combination of 50% new, French oak barrels, and 35% Amphora. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2055."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2021 Château Pontet-Canet is rock solid in the vintage and certainly shows the vibrant, vivid style of the estate today with its bright, exotic blue fruits, violets, and graphite-like aromatics. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, I love its mid-palate density, it has notable freshness and purity, some chalky tannins, and outstanding length. The 2021 checks in as 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, and the aging consists of 50% in new barrels, 35% in concrete amphora, and the rest in second-fill barrels."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2021 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-black in color, it pops from the glass with vibrant blueberries, Morello cherries, and cassis scents, plus suggestions of violets, cinnamon stick, wet rocks, and forest floor with an exotic touch of cardamom. Medium-bodied, the palate has very finely grained tannins and well-poised freshness supporting the perfumed black fruits, leading to loads of minerally sparks on the finish of this very bright and shimmery wine. Harvest started on 24 September with Merlot, followed by the Cabernets and Petit Verdot on 4 October, and finished on 12 October. The wine is to be aged in 50% new oak barrels, 35% amphorae, and 15% 1-year barrels."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Reife Brombeeren, frische Zwetschken, ein Hauch von schwarzen Kirschen, zart nach Vanille und Edelholz, einladendes Bukett. Mittlerer Körper, zarte dunkle Beerenfrucht, etwas schwarzer Tee, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, frische Säure, zart blättrig von Petit Verdot im Abgang, weitgehend charmefrei in diesem Frühstadium, braucht seine Zeit."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Offering up wild, exotic aromas of blackberries, cloves and Indian spices mingled with notions of rose petal, bruised orchard fruit and cherry pit that evolve rapidly in the glass, the 2021 Pontet-Canet is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a layered mid-palate and refined tannins that assert themselves on the firm, saline finish. Always one of the Médoc's most singular, idiosyncratic wines, it will be interesting to see how it performs in bottle."