2016 Pontet-Canet Bordeaux Blend

Bordeaux Blend - 1.5L
Reg: $399.00
$349.00
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REVIEWS

WE 100 JL 99 TWI 99 VN 99 DC 98 JA 98 JD 98 WA 98 JS 97 WS 95
WE 100

Wine Enthusiast, May 2019

A voluptuous wine, this is rich and fruity yet properly balanced by a magnificent structure. Pure, crisp and packed with a black currant flavor, this will be a remarkable wine as it develops. Still young, it needs many...
JL 99

TheWineCellarInsider.com, July 2022

Almost opaque in color, the wine kicks off with smoky blackberries, wet earth, underbrush, licorice, black cherry, and currants. Full-bodied, rich, and intense, the wine is incredibly concentrated. Think of placing a...
TWI 99

The Wine Independent, June 2022

The 2016 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes from the glass with bombastic creme de cassis, stewed plums, and...
VN 99

Vinous, January 2019

The 2016 Pontet-Canet is absolutely breathtaking. Powerful, ample and racy in the glass, the 2016 is one of the most exquisitely well-balanced young Pontet-Canets I can remember tasting. Savory, high-toned aromatics and...
DC 98

Decanter, September 2021

Top wine of the vertical. Deep, violet hue. Even if the nose is slightly closed, initially, what pure fruit! A degree higher in alcohol than the 2015, but superb balance. The pristine fruit, fine-grained tannins, focus...
JA 98

janeanson.com, September 2021

Oh this is good. We are fully up to 2010 level here and coming close to surpassing it. A full wall of tannins, one of those wines that you have to scale to get to the heights but the views are great at the top. Cassis...
JD 98

jebdunnuck.com, February 2019

98+ Reminding me of the 2010 and, I suspect, a wine that will merit a triple-digit rating in a decade or so (I tasted this on multiple occasions and thought it was perfect on one of them), the 2016 Château Pontet-Canet...
WA 98

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, May 2020

(98+ points) Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Pontet-Canet hits the ground running with a hedonic nose of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis and blueberry pie plus suggestions of candied violets, hoisin, chocolate...
JS 97

jamessuckling.com, February 2019

The aromas of ripe blackcurrants, iodine, sweet tobacco and fresh flowers are spellbinding. Full-bodied with mouth-expanding, massive and natural tannins. Impressive fruit with hints of prunes. The finish is long and...
WS 95

Wine Spectator, March 2019

This is sappy and rich in feel, with waves of red and black currant preserves, raspberry and bitter plum coulis. The long finish drips with sweet tobacco and anise notes, while a brambly layer courses underneath. The...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Pauillac
Vintage 2016
Size 1.5L
Percent alcohol 14%
Closure Cork

Chateau Pontet-Canet is a Fifth Growth Bordeaux wine estate owned by the Tesseron family (of Cognac fame) since 1975. The estate is a rarity in the Medoc, having known only three owners over a course of three centuries.

The vineyard spans 81 hectares in Pauillac, atop an outcropping of Garonne gravel over limestone. After a first trial in 2004, which took place on 14 hectares, Pontet-Canet fully converted the estate to biodynamic agriculture. They obtained organic certification from Ecocert, biodynamic certification from Biodyvin in 2010, and from Demeter in 2014.

Alfred Tesseron uses horses to plow the vineyards of Pontet Canet since they are gentler and lighter than tractors. Because the horses never step in the same place twice, the soils are always aerated in different parts, bringing much needed oxygen to the soil.

The vines have an average age of 40 to 45 years. Their varietal plantings are Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Merlot (32%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and three parcels of Petit Verdot (2%).

Chateau Pontet-Canet is bright and brilliant with full-bodied fruit, yet finesse, in the mouth. It expresses energy, tension and intensity.

The fruit is fermented with native yeast in semi-conical concrete tanks that facilitate punch-downs. The wine then macerates for an additional four weeks before being removed from the pomace for maturation. One-third of the wine is aged in large, concrete amphorae, designed expressly for Pontet-Canet. The rest ages in French oak barrels.

The 2016 Pontet-Canet is a wine that exudes elegance, power, and complexity. Hailing from the illustrious Bordeaux region in France, this Bordeaux Blend showcases the best of Pauillac. With a deep garnet-purple color, it immediately captures the eye and draws you in with its allure.

On the nose, the aromas are hedonic and captivating. Notes of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis, and blueberry pie create a luscious and indulgent bouquet. As the wine opens up, hints of candied violets, hoisin, chocolate mint, charcuteries, and forest floor emerge, along with a delicate waft of star anise.

The palate is a testament to the wine's power and depth. Full-bodied and rich, it is layered with flavors that mirror the aromatic profile. The palate is built like a brick house, with firm, ripe, grainy tannins that add structure and balance. Despite its power, the wine maintains a harmonious freshness that lifts the flavors and creates a seamless experience. The finish is incredibly long and deep, leaving a lasting impression.

Renowned wine critic Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine an impressive score of 98+ points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "profoundly layered and powerfully fruited," predicting that it may even warrant a three-digit score in a few years' time. Vinous also gave it a score of 99 points, praising its exquisite balance, savory aromatics, and dark, incisive flavors.

This vintage of Pontet-Canet is truly exceptional and showcases the unique vision of winemaker Alfred Tesseron. With a commitment to biodynamic farming and sustainability, Pontet-Canet stands apart from other properties in the region. It is a wine that demands attention and will continue to evolve and develop over the next several decades. If you have the patience, it is worth waiting until 2025 to experience the full potential of this extraordinary wine.