Château Pontet-Canet 2019

Already absolutely impressive on the nose, complex and distinctive, seductive, Burgundian with its notes of very ripe berries; pulls off the feat of seeming mature even at this stage, rounded, juicy and full-bodied, with perfectly integrated tannins, immense freshness, density and length; a wine in its own right, which can be enjoyed young and aged for a long time.

Very lush out of the gate, with waves of gently mulled plum, blackberry and black currant fruit that roll through slowly, lined with alder, sweet tobacco, worn cedar and singed savory notes. Delivers a late tug of iron that's well-buried on a finish marked by lingering perfume, resulting in an end impression of a rich wine that's very light on its feet. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036.

Such gorgeous aromatics of freshly picked violets, cherries and bramble fruits – pretty and quite delicate. The texture is smooth and succulent, mouth-coating but full of soft tannins with the most delicious black cherry, blackcurrant flesh and liquorice tinge to them – so satisfying. Extremely well balanced and well integrated, this has restrained power; it’s not rich or particularly round but straight, direct and layered rather than wide. Really long finish with great freshness and touches of cool blueberries. This is just such a great wine, everything you want, and you can sense the power promising a long life. Great winemaking on show. 35% aged in concrete, 50% new oak, 15% in one-year-old barrels, for 16–18 months. This year there’s a new label; the drawing of the house remains but the font is more elegant and modern. A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

The aromas here are truly amazing, with a potpourri of spices and dried flowers, as well as redcurrants, sweet plums and even some peaches. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe fruit and ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate in an enveloping yet consistently elegant and pure way. It’s succulent and unadulterated. Like crushed, perfectly ripened grapes. The length is virtually endless. The tannins build. Fabulous young red. 35% in amphora and the rest in oak, with 50% new and 15% one-year barrels. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2028, but an absolute joy to taste now.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Harvest from 23 September to 10 October. Deep purple hue. Pure, elegant and precise, the fruit perfectly pitched, with complex and refined aromatics. Tannins finely edged yet firm and present. Altogether great harmony and poise. Upright yet seductive at the same time. A very complete wine. (JL)

The 2019 Pontet-Canet was so effusive and generous en primeur. Today, though, it is quite reticent. That won't be an issue for those who can be patient, but patience indeed will be the key here. Dark red-fleshed fruit, tobacco, cedar, spice, kirsch, mint and blood orange gradually open with a bit of coaxing. Imposing tannins wrap it all together. The 2019 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty, but it needs time.

It is the purity of the fruit, along with the soft, silky, polished layers of freshness that matter here. The wine kicks off with an array of flowers, plums, currants and blackberries along with spice, savory herbs, tobacco leaf and a touch of cherry. The wine exudes its red fruit quality with ease, leaving you with an elegant, refined, soft, polished mid-palate and a long, vibrant, fresh finish that provides you with a gorgeous display of purity in the fruits. Please allow the wine some time for aging before pulling a cork. Drink from 2030-2060.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. For the first time since 2011, the proportion of Merlot is somewhat higher; accordingly, the bouquet is more marked by heart cherries than by the usual Pauillac cassis, with delicate nougat and caramel, and fine herbal spice. Powerful, tightly knit, shows good expression, chocolatey touch, ripe tannins, great complexity, great length and spiciness, a highly distinctive personality, a huge promise for the future—already clear: this wine has everything a world‑class wine needs.

The 2019 Château Pontet Canet checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that was brought up in a mix of barrels and concrete tanks. It shows the new style of the estate with a more savory, exotic, medium- to full-bodied profile that’s a dramatically different beast than the benchmark 2009 and 2010 vintages, which, to my mind, are the greatest from this estate to date. The 2019 has a ruby/plum color as well as a perfumed nose of redcurrant and mulberry fruits, plus notes of brambly herbs, woodsmoke, peony, leather, and cedar pencil. It’s aromatic and complex, though certainly not classic Pauillac, and on the palate it’s medium to full-bodied, with firm, savory yet quality tannins, good balance, and outstanding length. It warrants 7–8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30+ years. While the style of the estate has been gradually shifting with the winemaking moving to hand destemming and aging in concrete and amphora, this is the first time the winemaking seems to dominate the wine, and the quality is unquestionably not at the same level.

Floral, silky, fresh bouquet, cassis, black berries, mint, licorice. Elegant, fresh, creamy palate with powerful, sweet aromatics, fine tannins, delicate structure, fresh fruit, long, fragrant finish. 18/20 2025 - 2048

Particularly successful during En Primeur, and even better now, just bursting out of the glass. Plump and fruit-forward, plenty of character, with spiced cedar and smoked earth; violet and iris notes play around the edges, but the focus is on creamy cassis, bilberry, cocoa bean, and aniseed. Last vintage with Jean-Michel Comme as technical director, and you can really see the skilled use of amphoras now: they added notes of austerity in the early years (introduced in 2012) but now showcase the precision of the fruit. 100% first wine, with ageing taking place in a mix of 45% new oak barrels, 15% one-year barrels, and 40% amphoras.

Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Pontet-Canet is deep garnet-purple in color. It features notes of prunes, crème de cassis, and wilted roses, followed by suggestions of spice box, iron ore, Ceylon tea, and underbrush. The medium- to full-bodied palate is rich, concentrated, and seductive, with a racy backbone and ripe, fine-grained tannins supporting the complex, layered flavors, finishing long and mineral.

Black color, big licorice-tinged nose, perfectly smooth texture, uncompromising yet never rigid, highly nuanced and seductive in the tactile sensations it delivers, with impeccable natural poise. Perhaps even more elegant than the sumptuous 2018.

Remarkably charming, the wine has an inimitable texture with a very fine grain. The palate is fleshy, broad, and above all displays great class on the finish. A more balanced wine than the spectacular 2018. Here we find a clean, juicy fruit.

Dense garnet red with purple highlights. Superb aromatic expression marked by fresh fruit, with notes of grape—an obvious point perhaps, but worth noting. Added to this are aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and licorice wood. On the palate, the wine shines with freshness and vigor. Its tannins are compact, powerful, tight, and in perfect harmony with the character of the acidic structure. So much verve, clarity, and precision in this wine. It conveys a magnificent sense of quiet strength, serenity, and potential. A great Pontet Canet that rivals the 2016!

Served double-decanted. Deep, intense, beautiful color. Very aromatic, refined nose with ripe, subtle fruit. Rich on the attack, supple mid-palate, with plenty of flavor and great tactile precision; the wine caresses the palate, gaining volume and power toward the finish. Very long length. Delicious!

Its pure, precise nose, free of artifice, offers great complexity with an intense aroma of dark fruits, cedarwood, graphite and spices. The palate is racy, with incredible chew and extraordinary depth of flavor, where a magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme, proud of its terroir, supported by silky substance and plenty of freshness.

97–99. Barrel Sample. This is a luscious, sumptuous wine, with layers of black fruits and wonderfully cushioned tannins. The structure of the wine is initially masked by the great fruits, but then finds balance from a dry edge of spice, smokiness and lifted acidity. It's another great vintage from this biodynamic estate.