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Chateau Pontet-Canet

2010
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Appellation
Pauillac
UPC
0 15643 25469 7
Red Wine
Verified Stock
1704-10
Product Ratings
James Suckling 100pt

The aromas to this are incredible with blueberry, minerals, dried flowers, and stones. It goes to dried meat and spices. Full body and incredibly integrated with blackberry, licorice, and minerals. There's a wonderful purity to this. It goes on for minutes. The quality of tannins is amazing. Seamless. There's an amazing transparency that shows you all the elements of the wine's unique terrior.

by James Suckling, 2013
Wine Advocate 100pt

An absolutely amazing wine, from grapes harvested between the end of September and October 17, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot has close to 15% natural alcohol. It comes from one of the few biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux, but you are likely to see many more, given the success that Tesseron seems to be having at all levels, both in his vineyards and in his fermentation/winemaking. An astounding, compelling wine with the classic Pauillac nose more often associated with its cross-street neighbor, Mouton-Rothschild, creme de cassis, there are also some violets and other assorted floral notes. The wine has off-the-charts massiveness and intensity but never comes across as heavy, overbearing or astringent. The freshness, laser-like precision, and full-bodied, massive richness and extract are simply remarkable to behold and experience. It is very easy, to become jaded tasting such great wines from a great vintage, but it is really a privilege to taste something as amazing as this. Unfortunately, it needs a good decade of cellaring, and that's assuming it doesn't close down over the next few years. This is a 50- to 75-year wine from one of the half-dozen or so most compulsive and obsessive proprietors in all of Bordeaux. Is there anything that proprietor Alfred Tesseron is not doing right? Talk about an estate that is on top of its game! Pontet-Canet's 2010 is a more structured, tannic and restrained version of their most recent perfect wine, the 2009. Kudos to Pontet-Canet!

by Wine Advocate, 2013
Wine Enthusiast 98pt

Dense, yes, but this is also a handsome wine that balances complex tannins with pure black currant fruits that shine. This biodynamic wine has a generous, full and rich feel, ripe with just a touch of restraint. The greatness of the wine shows in its purity with a deceptive simplicity that hides the final complex tannins and structure.

by Wine Enthusiast, 2013
Wine Spectator 97pt

This is big, broad and powerfully rendered, but remarkably polished and refined at the same time. An enormous core of roasted fig, blackberry and black currant fruit is suavely wrapped with roasted apple wood and sandalwood, while dark espresso, loam and warm paving stone notes drive the finish. Very long, with a great tug of scorched earth at the end. A terrific combination of power and precision. Best from 2020 through 2040.

by Wine Spectator, 2013

Vintage

In Bordeaux each year is unique, with a character unlike any other. As with every child, a wine has two parents: the father—terroir; and a mother—the vintage. It will have something of each, but the wine will nonetheless be true to itself.
The season began rather late, then unstable weather during flowering gave rise to coulure which reduced the number of grapes produced, especially in the older Merlot parcels.
Finally, sun and dry weather arrived and lasted through the harvest—the sign of a great vintage. There has been significant development in the use of horses in the vineyard: we have gone from 7 to 24 hectares that are worked completely tractor-free. We have pared vinification down to the essentials in acknowledgment that, above all, a great wine is made in the vineyard.
This 2010, the product of our commitment to organic and biodynamic vine growing, is certified for both types of viticulture—unique among the Médoc's Great Classed Growths.

Tasting notes

Purple color, almost black.
The very complex aromas have a vibrant character, dominated by notes of violet, blackberry, red currant and cherry, among others. There's complete harmony in the mouth, with a straightforward structure and impressive length. It is both dense and etherial.
This is surely the greatest Pontet-Canet in modern times.

Harvest

September 29 to October 17