Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac 5. Cru Classé 2021 ØKO i trækasse

Vert de Vin Magazine

The nose is fruity, elegant, racy and reveals a nice purity of fruit, delicacy in its concentration, a very nice finesse of grain, complexity. We find notes of bright blackcurrant, violet and more slightly fresh Morello cherry combined with touches of fleshy/juicy violet plum, liquorice, fine caramelised notes, graphite, racy minerality, subtle hints of crushed berries, discreet hints of bergamot and cherry blossom. The palate is nicely managed, delicate, precise and shows purity, juiciness, freshness, a nice definition, a nice work on the bitter taste, depth, minerality, a nice energy, an acidulous spine, a nice crunchiness/juiciness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cherry, fresh/crisp Morello cherry and more lightly of purple plum, crisp/juicy raspberry as well as fine nuances of bright wild berries, liquorice, liquorice, vanilla, subtle hints of bergamot, subtle hints of fresh flowers, fresh rose, subtle hints of cardamom, fresh hazelnut, subtle hints of bourbon vanilla. The tannins are supple. Good length. A nice success, a classic wine.

Christer Byklum

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla and spices, dark fruits nose, spices and exotic notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, intense and dense, layered, long finish.

Wine Enthusiast

Pure berry fruit and cedar aromas, the wine has great purity. It is a straight line of freshness as well as black-currant fruits and ripe acidity. The wine is beautifully textured and firm at its core. Drink from 2028. Organic and biodynamic.

Tastingbook.com

B my Bordeaux

"Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla and spices, dark fruits nose, spices and exotic notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, intense and dense, layered, long finish."

Markus del Monego MW

"A very elegant wine with a wonderful tension and a promising potential."

Vinum

Incredibly deep, with a cool aftertaste, dark fruit, currants, plums, and floral notes. Precise on the palate, with masses of tannin as if carved from stone, delicately interwoven with the fruit; structure, precision, finesse, punch, and length. A magnificent Pontet Canet, among the best this vintage has to offer.

La Revue du Vin de France

The wine offers absolutely magnificent refinement and subtlety. With fresh fruit, it unfolds on the palate with great smoothness and silkiness. The texture is superb, the fruit is well-defined, and the tannins are like lace.

VV Wine

58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot.

Deep ruby color. Ripe-fruited nose, very profound, with lots of blackcurrant, plums, floral notes, violets, a hint of chocolate, and also mint — super complex. On the palate, firm and powerful, the wine shows great intensity and concentration. The fruit is beautifully ripe, crisp, and supported by masses of tannins, which wrap around the fruit like a silk scarf — delivering both strength and finesse. The finish is very long, ending fresh with delicate spice. A very beautiful, well-balanced Pontet-Canet. (Tasted in April 2022. Château Pontet-Canet)

Andrew Caillard MW

“Deep crimson. Lovely dark chocolate, blackberry, graphite aromas. Richly concentrated and voluminous dark chocolate, blackberry, blackcurrant flavours, integrated fine chocolaty/ cedary textures and savoury nuances. Beautifully balanced with very good density, mid-palate richness and vigour. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc 6% petit verdot. 50% new oak, 35% amphoras, 15% 1-year old oak.”

Alexandre Ma

The outstanding ripeness, the creamy mouthfeel, and the incredible concentration are all included in the answer sheet that Pontet Canet 2021. In addition to the classic aromas of licorice, cedar, and black pepper of Pauillac, the wine also gives off some unique fresh scents of blueberry, black plum, and medicinal herbs. It is pure and bright on the first sip, with a fine, dense and plumpy mouthfeel. The furry tannins amalgamate with the well-polished baking aroma, playing a waltz on my palate. Mathieu Bessonnet, the technical manger, has told me that the vineyard was not weeded in 2021, because they wanted them to absorb the excessive water underground. This ambious attempt has delivered to the wine some smaller and more concentrated grapes in the rainy vintage of 2021, thus indirectly contributing to the ideal flavours intensity.

James Suckling

This is a very pretty 2021 with a solid, beautiful mid-palate and density. Juicy fruit, slightly chewy tannins and a savory finish. Hints of graphite

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Bright berry red in colour, nuanced blackberry and loganberry with bitter black chocolate notes from the first attack. Lovely precision, good level of spice, earthy, unfussy, rose stem and blackcurrant bud. This was the third vintage with mildew pessure, but the team are now experienced, and I can attest to seeing the vines during harvest and remarking on how healthy they looked, with no-till farming helping concentration. Plenty of tannins give structure and are shot through with sinew and juice, this is an impressive wine from technical director Mathieu Bessonet, with Pauillac typicity. Harvest 24 september until 12 October. 50% new oak, 35% amphora, 15% one year barrels, 15% press (aged in the amphora).

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 focussed 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.

Anthocyanes Yohan Castaing

Nose of licorice and smoke, elegantly rooty and earthy, with notes of pepper, dark fruits, black cherry, and spring flowers after slight aeration. The bouquet is somewhat reserved but fresh and elegant. Lovely mouthfeel — graceful, creamy, and velvety, with medium, balanced density and beautifully integrated, structuring tannins. A sense of precision and airy structure. A fine wine in the making, even if the whole seems a bit firm at this stage. The élevage (aging process) will be decisive. Score: 94–96+

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

The wine opens with flowers, tobacco leaf, 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, and 35% Amphora. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2028-2055. 94-96 Pts