CHATEAU PONTET-CANET 5eme Grand Cru Classe Pauillac 2012 Bottle

Description

Château Pontet Canet 2012 is a remarkable wine that showcases elegance and class, earning 95 points from Decanter. Panos Kakaviatos praises its expressive nose of juicy cherries, blackberries, and ripe cassis, noting its round and suave character. Vinous rates it at 93+ points, highlighting beautifully nuanced flavours and bright floral notes that enhance its sophistication. Wine Enthusiast gives it an impressive 98 points, calling it structured and ripe, with vibrant blackberry flavours and lively acidity contributing to its freshness. This wine is medium-bodied with a persistent finish, making it ideal for immediate enjoyment or cellaring for years to come. Château Pontet Canet exemplifies the excellence of the 2012 vintage.

*****

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Panos Kakaviatos
(at Château Pontet Canet, 17 Sep 2021) Part of Five Bordeaux vintages to drink now
Drinking Window: 2021 - 2045
What an expressive nose! Plump, fruit driven, juicy cherry, blackberry, ripe cassis and rose stem. The opposite of the 2011, this is round and suave, albeit with not quite as long a finish. A juicy, bright palate with high alcohol and full body, some oak derived coffee tones, with burgeoning touches of earth. The first vintage with 35% ageing in concrete amphorae.

VINOUS 93+ points
A wine of real class, pedigree and distinction, the 2012 Pontet-Canet is absolutely gorgeous. The flavors are beautifully nuanced and delineated throughout. Bright floral notes add lift and sensuality. The 2012 is decidedly understated next to some other recent vintages, but the magic of this site simply won't be denied. This is another sublime wine from proprietor Alfred Tesseron. - Antonio Galloni

WINE ENTHUSIAST 98 points
96–98. Barrel sample. This is a structured, ripe wine that also has a great sense of freshness—vibrant blackberry flavor and lively acidity. The finish retains the same delicious freshness and brightness of this vintage. — Roger Voss

JAMES SUCKLING 93 points
This shows incredible decadence and opulence for the vintage with dried meat, black berry, blueberries and hints of mushroom. Full body, very polished silky tannins and a chewy finish. Lots of richness for the vintage. Persistent palate. This was aged 35% in cement eggs for 12 months. Better in 2018.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 93 points
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Drink Date: 2020 - 2041
Deep garnet in color, the 2012 Pontet-Canet gives up a profound earthy/savory nose, revealing notes of tilled soil, woodsmoke, mossy tree bark, fungi and bouquet garni with a core of raspberry preserves, boysenberries and dried cherries plus a hint of warm cassis. Medium-bodied, it has a firm grainy texture and a softly spoken, savory character in the mouth, finishing with lingering oolong tea and dried herbs notes.
Published: May 29, 2020

JAMES SUCKLING 16 points
First bottle corked. A second bottle seemed a little reductive at first, then opened to the fruit. Soft, supple and sweet, this has an easy-going, approachable feel, the tannic structure light, the emphasis on the fruit. Misses the gravitas of a top year but pleasant early drinking. (JL)