The 2022 Pontet-Canet is a Bordeaux blend from the Pauillac region of Bordeaux, France. The wine is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, with an alcohol content of 14.5%. It is aged in a combination of 50% new French oak, 35% amphora, and 15% used barrels.
The wine has received high praise from several critics, with James Suckling awarding it a perfect score of 100 points. He describes it as having "so much energy and brightness," noting the "superb fruit and transparency" and "super fine texture." Suckling also highlights its "freshness of the seed" and the presence of "cassis, tobacco, and cigar box" in the flavor profile.
Jeb Dunnuck also provided an excellent review, scoring it 99 points and calling it "brilliant" and among "the crème de la crème from the Médoc." He notes the wine's "incredibly pure bouquet of cassis, graphite, lead pencil, and scorched earth," praising its "deep, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish."
Jeff Leve, who scored the wine 98 points, emphasizes the "purity in the fruit" and the harmonious blend of "concentration with elegance, power with purity." He also notes the absence of any sensation of heat or over-ripeness, stating that the wine is "lush, as well as refined."
Jane Anson, who gave the wine 94 points, describes its "chewy tannins" and the array of flavors including "cassis, blueberry, fresh fig fruits, rosemary, sage, and dried herbs." She also highlights the wine's "tight tannic structure" and the use of clay as a sunscreen on the grapes during harvest.
Vinous, scoring the wine 97 points, remarks on its "restraint and understatement," noting a "feeling of tension and precision" that is unexpected for this typically more opulent wine. Antonio Galloni admires its "clean mineral notes" and "vibrancy."
Other notable reviews include Wine Enthusiast, which scored it 98 points, and The Wine Independent, which awarded it 99 points, both praising the wine's richness, balance, and aging potential.
In summary, the 2022 Pontet-Canet is a highly acclaimed Bordeaux blend, celebrated for its purity, complexity, and aging potential. Its combination of traditional and innovative aging techniques contributes to its unique and refined character.