So smooth, this is a rich and grandiose wine. Full of black current fruits and spice flavours, the texture is most impressive. Dusty tannins are integrated with juicy fruits seamlessly. The purest fruit flavours are allied to linear tannins in a precise yet generous way. The wine evolves beautifully.
Château Pontet-Canet is a large Pauillac estate that can trace its origins back to 1725, when Jean-François Pontet gave his name to the estate he had acquired. The wine was not château-bottled until 1972 and in 1975 the property was sold to Guy Tesseron, of the Tesseron family, one of the finest exponents of luxury, very old, aged Cognacs.
The Tesserons also own Château Lafon-Rochet in St-Estephe. Today, Château
Pontet-Canet is owned and run by Alfred and Michel Tesseron.
Pontet-Canet's 78 hectares of vineyards adjoin those of Mouton Rothschild and
are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), Merlot (32%) and Cabernet Franc (5%).
The Tesserons have vastly improved the quality of the
Pontet-Canet wines which are now full-bodied and packed with ripe, chewy, black
fruits and finely integrated tannins. The wines posseses marvellous ageing
potential.
Pontet-Canet is classified as a 5ème Cru Classé.
The Tesserons also own Château Lafon-Rochet in St-Estephe. Today, Château
Pontet-Canet is owned and run by Alfred and Michel Tesseron.
Pontet-Canet's 78 hectares of vineyards adjoin those of Mouton Rothschild and
are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), Merlot (32%) and Cabernet Franc (5%).
The Tesserons have vastly improved the quality of the
Pontet-Canet wines which are now full-bodied and packed with ripe, chewy, black
fruits and finely integrated tannins. The wines posseses marvellous ageing
potential.
Pontet-Canet is classified as a 5ème Cru Classé.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape, but it is invariably blended with other grapes. As with all red Bordeaux, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere may also be included in the blend (although wines will not necessarily include all six grapes). Prior to the 19th century, Malbec was predominant.
The style has been described as "stark". The predominant fruit flavour is usually blackcurrant, sometimes veering into plum. Pencil-shavings and cigar-box are also characteristic notes.
Wine from Pauillac may be labelled as Haut-Médoc (usually wine which the château considers inferior to its main offering and wishes to market under a different label). Similarly, second (or third) wines from the grandes châteaux may be labelled simply as Pauillac.