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 2023 Pontet-Canet, a Bordeaux Blend from the Pauillac sub-region of Bordeaux, France, stands out in this vintage for its exceptional structure and aromatic intensity. Comprising 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, this red wine has garnered high praise from esteemed wine critics.

James Suckling awarded this wine an impressive 98 points, describing it as "a very structured Pontet-Canet that expands in the mouth with a gorgeous combination of beautifully ripe fruit and intense tannins." He highlights the wine's "fresh and vivid" character, noting the presence of "raw pencil shavings to the blackcurrants" and flavors of "graphite and tar" (jamessuckling.com).

Similarly, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate praised the 2023 Pontet-Canet with 98 points, emphasizing its "unprecedented aromatic intensity and precision." The review mentions a bouquet of "mulberries and cassis mingled with notions of violets, gentian, and menthol," and describes the wine as "medium to full-bodied, seamless, and multidimensional" with "ultra-refined tannins" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).

The Wine Independent awarded the highest score of 99 points, lauding the wine's "deep garnet-purple" color and "silky, elegant, and fine" palate. The review also notes a harmonious blend of "juicy blueberries, black cherries, and blackcurrant jelly" with more complex undertones of "black truffle, fertile loam, and mossy tree bark" (The Wine Independent).

Jane Anson gave it a perfect score of 100 points, calling it "a wine to convince you of the quality and ripeness of Cabernet Sauvignon in Pauillac." She praised its "superbly supple tannins, great balance, depth, and savory blue and black fruit character" (janeanson.com).

Other notable reviews include Vinous, which rated the wine 97 points, describing it as "powerful, impressively constituted," and praising its "finely cut precision and soaring aromatics" (Vinous). Decanter also gave 97 points, noting the wine's "lovely red berry and mint freshness" and describing it as "superlative ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with tannic finesse" (Decanter).

In conclusion, the 2023 Pontet-Canet is a highly acclaimed Bordeaux blend characterized by its structured, aromatic, and elegant profile. The wine's blend and aging process, including the use of 50% new oak, 35% amphorae, and 15% once-used barrels, contribute to its complexity and potential for aging.