Chateau Pontet Canet 2020

- 19,5 Punkte VINUM: „Aromatik von besonderer Raffinesse, mit blumigen und delikaten Kräuternoten, Backgewürzen; ungemein fruchtiger Auftakt, saftige Entwicklung, lückenlos dichtes, erstklassiges Tannin, perfekt abgestimmter, kaum spürbarer Alkohol; besonders vollmundiger, samtener Pontet-Canet, der den Jahrgang nicht verleugnet und dadurch weniger erratisch wirkt als etwa der 2019er, aber nicht weniger Klasse besitzt. Trinkfenster 2028-2050“

- 19 Punkte Rene Gabriels BORDEAUX TOTAL, Andre Kunz: „(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, ausgebaut in 35% Amphoren , 50% neue Barrique und 15% gebrauchte Barrique) Dichtes, samtenes, süsses, komplexes, frisches, cremiges Bouquet, Pflaumen, Cassiscreme, Erdbeeren, Feuerstein, Korinthen, Lakritze, Graphit, Süssholz, Rosenwasser. Dichtverwobener, cremiger, zart opulenter, vielschichtiger Gaumen mit dichter, süsser, feiner Frucht, konzentrierter, vielfältiger Aromatik, viel feinem Tannin, dichter, fein muskulöser Struktur, sehr langer, frischer Abgang mit vielen süssen Rückaromen. 2028 – 2048“

- 98 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: " Aromas of blackcurrants and black cherries with hints of crushed walnuts, grilled thyme, cocoa powder and graphite. It’s full-bodied with layers of ultra-fine, silky tannins that elegantly coat your palate, allowing the juicy and vibrant fruit to shine. Delicate and pristine, yet compact with lots of energy and power to uncover in the coming years. It lasts for minutes and is delicious now. The purity of fruit is really impressive. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 50% new oak 15% old oak and 35% concrete amphorae. Try after 2027.“

- 97 Punkte ANDREAS LARSSON: „Ripe and pure, dark chocolate, mint, ripe black currant, no noticeable oak. Very supple palate yet dense and concentrated with powdery tannin, almost a creamy texture intense long and lingering dark fruit flavours with some bay leaf and grassy notes, very stylish and finely tuned with great length.“

- 97 Punkte DECANTER, Jane Anson: "Highly successful Pontet, one of the few Pauillacs that, for me, overperforms on its 2019. Inky purple with ruby reflections in colour. Lots of firm but upright tannins, a good dollop of graphite, pencil lead and cassis bud, there is depth through the mid palate shot through with wild blackberry, hawthorn, sage, rosemary and wild mint. It has personality, and is a little old school in the best possible way. Recommended. They have avoided the over-concentrated feel of some Pauillacs in the vintage, while remaining true to the appellation. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend, 50% new oak 35% amphoras, 15% one-year barrels. First full vintage for Mathieu Bessonnet who replaced the previous long-term director Jean-Michel Comme in 2020. 100% first wine, as it has been for the past four years. 45% will be aged in new oak barrels, 15% one year, 40% in amphoras. The mildew pressure was stressful in the early part of the year, but they had learnt from 2018, and brought in the manpower to get around the whole vineyard in a (very long) day, so their yields ended up being close to normal. Drinking Window 2028 – 2042"

- 96-98+ Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Lisa Perrotti-Brown: "The 2020 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, aging in 50% new French oak barriques, 35% concrete amphorae and 15% in one-year-old barrels. Harvest began on the 14th September for the Merlot, and the final lot of Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested on 30th September. Opaque purple-black in color, it needs significant aeration and swirling to coax out evocative notes of black cherry preserves, raspberry pie, blackcurrant pastilles and damp soil, before launching into gorgeous floral and spice notions of red roses, cinnamon stick, star anise and cardamom, with a waft of crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate reveals a lot of depth and polish, delivering mouth-coating red and black fruits with loads of fragrant earth and floral sparks, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral tinged. This is a singular, fascinating expression of the vintage and highly recommended!"

- 96 Punkte Falstaff, Peter Moser: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, opaker Kern, zarte Randaufhellung. Schwarze Kirschen, feines Cassis, reife Zwetschken, zart nach Nugat, kandierte Orangenzesten, sehr feine Edelholzwürze, einladendes Bukett. Komplex, saftig, würzige Textur, pfeffriger Touch, reife und feine Tannine, straff, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, sehr strukturiert, noch etwas fordernd im Abgang, wird von ausgedehnter Flaschenreife profitieren. (2030–2065)"

- 95+ Punkte VINOUS, Antonio Galloni: "The 2020 Pontet Canet is a potent, brooding wine that really seems to feflect the richness of the year in its flavor profile and overall feel. Today, the 2020 is quite dark and somber, although aeration gradually brings out floral top notes that convey freshness. The 2020 is an exotic Pontet-Canet that will require time. The 2020 spent 14-16 Months in the cellar, in the combination of 50% new oak, 35% amphora and 15% once-used barrels.”

- 95 Punkte VINOUS, Neal Martin: “The 2020 Pontet Canet, which was picked from 14 September, hat quite a plush bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis, cedar and light touches od espresso that hover in the background. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. There remains a noticeable and indeed pleasurable sprinkling of black pepper complementing that black fruit. Quite structured on the finish (more so than previous vintages) with a gentle but insistent grip. Unquestionably this is more classically styled than the recently blind-tasted 2019 and should mature well in bottle. Excellent.”

- 17 Punkte JANCIS ROBINSON: "Full bottle 1,340 g. Cask sample taken 7 April.
Very deep purplish crimson. Rich nose with interesting layers. Serious stuff with great juiciness initially but with the build to last quite a while. Really bright fruit. Exciting wine. Long."