Château Pontet Canet

94-96 Points - Neal Martin

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2011 Pontet Canet has a voluptuous bouquet with saturated dark cherry fruit, creme de cassis and a touch of blueberry with underlying minerality. It is exuberant, almost ostentatious at first, but it begins to calm down with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm structured cloaked by layers of ripe black fruit infused with minerals and graphite. It is a quite a strict Pontet Canet underneath what is a hell of a lot of fruit for a 2011. The finish is composed with a touch of citrus fruit towards the finish. Amazing that such a good wine comes from 90% of the crop. Tasted April 2012.

94-96 Points - Neal Martin

There is certainly great purity and terroir expression on the nose: blackberry, briary and background scents of fresh raspberry and cold stone. The definition is very impressive. The palate is interesting – quite different from the previous vintages. I love the tannins here – very fine but lending the Pontet-Canet great backbone It is utterly harmonious but I feel more understated, perhaps more controlled than recent vintages. The finish is much more introspective – a Pauillac politely informing you to go away and wait before bottling before making any judgement! This is a divine Pontet Canet - very succinct.

92 Points - Stuart McCloskey

Clearly, lacking the extravagance of the Grand Vin however, it’s difficult not to be impressed. Silky / supple tannins work harmoniously with the high quality fruit. Cabernet flavours dominate with blackberry leaf, cassis with a touch of cocoa coming through as the wine starts to reach its tenth birthday. Really delicious but does require 2-3 hours in a decanter.

91 Points - Stuart McCloskey

Alfred and his team produced a super-delicious wine during a difficult vintage. The Grand Vin equalling all the First-Growths and his second wine is comfortably comparable (if not better) than many second wines for double the money. This is a refined Pauillac and drinking beautifully now...

Château Pontet Canet’s second wine, which is made in tiny quantities because much of the fruit is good enough to make Pontet Canet itself...