The 2019 Pontet-Canet is a Bordeaux blend from Pauillac, France. The wine is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, with an alcohol content of 13.5%. This vintage has garnered widespread acclaim from professional reviewers, with scores ranging from 92 to an impressive 99 points.
James Suckling awarded the wine a near-perfect score of 99, praising its "amazing" aromas, which include "a potpourri of spices and dried flowers, as well as redcurrants, sweet plums and even some peaches." He highlights its "layers of ripe fruit and ultra-fine tannins" and describes the wine as "succulent and unadulterated," likening it to "crushed, perfectly ripened grapes." He advises that while it is a joy to taste now, it would benefit from further aging.
Similarly, Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss also gave it a 98, noting its "ripe tannins set beside the black currant purity" and describing the wine as having "weight but the fruit is so refined and vibrant." He emphasized the wine's potential for aging, supported by its structure and density.
Decanter’s review, also scored at 98, commended the wine’s "gorgeous aromatics of freshly picked violets, cherries and bramble fruits" and its "smooth and succulent" texture. They pointed out the wine’s "restrained power" and "great freshness," suggesting it promises a long life with a drinking window extending from 2027 to 2047.
The Wine Independent echoed these high praises with another 99, highlighting its "deep garnet-purple" color and a bouquet featuring "prunes, creme de cassis, and wilted roses." They noted the wine's "rich, concentrated, and seductive" palate, supported by "ripe, fine-grained tannins."
On the other hand, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave a more tempered score of 93, finding the wine "somewhat perplexing" and suggesting it might be mistaken for a wine from Gigondas rather than Pauillac in a blind tasting. Jeb Dunnuck's 92 score also highlighted this departure from classic Pauillac style, describing it as having a "savory, exotic, medium to full-bodied style."
Overall, the 2019 Pontet-Canet is a wine of notable complexity and character, with its unique use of amphoras contributing to its distinct profile. While opinions vary slightly on its alignment with traditional Pauillac typicity, the consensus is that it is a well-crafted wine with significant aging potential.