Château Pontet-Canet 2020

Dark chocolate, bramble tones, not overly floral or fruity with some cedar and cinnamon notes. Lovely high acidity straight away, forward, bright and energetic with lovely crunchy blue fruit on the palate but creamy textured tannins giving a round and complete mouthful. Nothing feels overdone, this is quietly seductive and confident but not at all showing off. I love the minerality and the graphite grip with plum and black cherry and tons of slate, liquorice and menthol freshness. Long finish, slowly expansive, building and growing from start to finish showing an impressive structure overall. Nicely constructed, charming still with the Pauillac touch. A great Pontet - immediately seductive and enjoyable with a long ageing potential.

Aromas of blackcurrants and black cherries with hints of crushed walnuts, grilled thyme, cocoa powder and graphite. It’s full-bodied with layers of ultra-fine, silky tannins that elegantly coat your palate, allowing the juicy and vibrant fruit to shine. Delicate and pristine, yet compact with lots of energy and power to uncover in the coming years. It lasts for minutes and is delicious now. The purity of fruit is really impressive. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 50% new oak, 15% old oak and 35% concrete amphorae. Try after 2027.

The 2020 Pontet Canet, picked from 14 September, has quite a plush bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis, cedar and light touches of espresso that hover in the background. Finely delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. There remains a noticeable and indeed pleasurable sprinkle of black pepper complementing that black fruit. Quite structured on the finish (more so than previous vintages) with a gentle yet insistent grip. Unquestionably, this is more classically styled than the recently blind-tasted 2019 and should mature well in bottle. Excellent.

With a nose that displays truffle, tobacco leaf, cedar, licorice, and black currants, the wine is soft, fresh, refined, and focuses you on its cassis, blackberry, earth, spice, and peppery herb character. There are no hard edges in the finish, just soft, vibrant currants, herbs, and spice. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, pH 3.8. The wine is aged in 45% new French oak barrels and amphora. The harvest took place September 14 to September 30. Drink from 2026–2055.

Deep dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, opaque core, delicate rim brightening. Black cherries, fine cassis, ripe plums, hints of nougat, candied orange zest, very fine noble wood savouriness, inviting bouquet. Complex, juicy, savoury texture, peppery touch, ripe and fine tannins, taut, mineral-salty finish, very structured, still somewhat demanding on the finish, will benefit from extended bottle aging. (2030-2065).

Ripe and pure, dark chocolate, mint, ripe black currant, no noticeable oak. Very supple palate yet dense and concentrated, with powdery tannins, an almost creamy texture, intense long and lingering dark fruit flavours with some bay leaf and grassy notes; very stylish and finely tuned with great length.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, aged 35% in amphorae, 50% in new barriques and 15% in used barriques) Dense, velvety, sweet, complex, fresh, creamy bouquet of plums, cassis cream, strawberries, flint, currants, licorice, graphite, sweet wood, rose water. Tightly woven, creamy, delicately opulent, multi-layered palate with dense, sweet, fine fruit, concentrated, varied aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, a dense, finely muscular structure, and a very long, fresh finish with many sweet echoing flavors.

(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, aged 35% in amphorae, 50% in new barriques and 15% in used barriques) Dense, velvety, sweet, complex, fresh, creamy bouquet of plums, cassis cream, strawberries, flint, currants, licorice, graphite, liquorice wood, rose water. Tightly woven, creamy, delicately opulent, multi-layered palate with dense, sweet, fine fruit, concentrated, diverse aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, a dense, finely muscled structure, and a very long, fresh finish with many sweet echoes. 19/20 2028 - 2048

A powerful character to this wine, with a touch of oyster shell, soy and salinity, yet also creamy, with energy, lift and precision, and a violet character that you increasingly find at Pontet Canet. Plenty of Pauillac signature in its tannic grip and heft, with cocoa bean and slate. Deft and exceptionally successful. Harvest from September 14 to September 30. No second wine, as has been the case for the past half‑decade at Pontet Canet. First full vintage for Mathieu Bessonnet, who replaced the previous long‑term director Jean‑Michel Comme in 2020. 45% new oak barrels, 15% one year, 40% in amphoras.

Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Pontet-Canet is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs a lot of swirling and aeration to coax out notes of crushed blackcurrants, blueberry compote, and candied violets, leading to suggestions of allspice, fertile loam, kirsch, and dark chocolate with a touch of Indian spices. The medium-bodied palate delivers a firm backbone of grainy tannins with loads of bright, perfumed red and black fruits and seamless acidity, finishing long and fragrant. This is stunning.

From the very first nose, the tone is set, with remarkable complexity: notes of fruit, charcoal, graphite… The wine is spectacular on the palate as well, very complete and vibrant, with a tangy edge that gives it great drive and stretches out the finish. A bottle of absolute harmony.

It is freshness that defines the bouquet of Pontet-Canet. A lovely mix of noble vegetal, floral, and fruity nuances, completed by terroir notes of cedar and graphite. The attack is slightly creamy and heralds a precise, elegant wine. It does not stand out for its breadth but rather for its precision. The tannins show a fine grain and are in tune with the acid structure. A subtle bitterness on the finish underscores the aromatic expression and lengthens the finale. A very great wine, all about finesse.

Dark, intense and beautiful color. Moderately aromatic nose with fresh fruit. Soft on the attack, juicy mid-palate, very tasty; the wine caresses the palate—fleshy, charming, perfumed—with plenty of flavor on the finish. Very long length with no angular tannins. Blend: 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, 4% petit verdot. Alcohol: 13.3%. Production: 100% of the harvest. Yield: 32 hl/ha.

This vintage perfectly embodies biodynamics at Pontet-Canet—if one can capture the impact of this alternative viticulture over the years—so markedly have the wines gained in depth, brightness, freshness, and precision. This one dazzles on the nose and palate with its brilliant fruit and peppery notes. The attack is fresh before revealing a vibrant texture that grows ever deeper, with a melting, utterly delightful creaminess. A wine built for the future!

96–98. Barrel Sample. Aromatic black currant and spice aromas give way to a wine that has richness while having impressive balance. The freshness shines with tannins that give a velvet character to the wine's texture. The fruitiness should not deceive from its longevity, so age this wine for many years. Organic and biodynamic.