CHATEAU PONTET-CANET 5eme Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 2006 MAGNUM - BIO

Description

Chateau Pontet Canet 5eme Grand Cru Classe Pauillac 2006 is a richly textured and impeccably balanced claret that shows the estate’s biodynamic energy married to classic Pauillac structure. The colour is deep garnet with an orange tinged rim that signals mature evolution while the core remains concentrated. The nose opens with blackcurrant, black cherry and damson, then broadens to reveal layers of cedar, graphite and cigar box; with aeration the bouquet develops forest floor, truffle and a savoury note of pressed leather, together with a fine mineral seam.

On the palate the wine is full bodied yet lithe, offering a dense, expansive mid palate framed by polished, ripe tannins that provide backbone without austerity. Primary dark fruit is generous and ripe but kept fresh by bright acidity and a precise saline thread that runs through the core. Mid palate development brings olive tapenade, smoked meat and a discreet soy like reduction, while oak seasoning contributes clove, dark chocolate and a warm spice that integrates seamlessly with the fruit. The texture is almost velvety but with a firm structural spine that promises further evolution.

The 2006 vintage produced wines of clarity and refinement rather than sheer opulence, and at Pontet Canet this resulted in a wine that combines immediate appeal with substantial ageing potential. The estate’s biodynamic practices and meticulous élevage are evident in the wine’s vibrancy and textural complexity. Expect tertiary notes of leather, cedar and forest undergrowth to continue knitting with fruit over the next decade.

*****

Drink 2026 to 2040, peaking 2028 to 2036. Serve after a cautious decant with roast beef, beef Wellington, lamb with rosemary, venison, mushroom and truffle dishes, or mature hard cheeses. This Pontet Canet 2006 is a powerful yet refined Pauillac that rewards patience and pairs beautifully with robust, savoury cuisine.

DECANTER 98 points
Tasted by: Panos Kakaviatos
(at Château Pontet Canet, 17 Sep 2021)
Part of Château Pontet-Canet: Tasting 10 years of biodynamics
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2070
Top wine of the vertical. Deep, violet hue. Even if the nose is slightly closed, initially, what pure fruit! A degree higher in alcohol than the 2015, but superb balance. The pristine fruit, fine-grained tannins, focus and precision lead to an outstanding finish, surpassing even the 2010. It has the sumptuousness of the 2015, but the arc and tension of the 2010. Great capacity for ageing. Aged 50% new oak, 35% amphora.