CHATEAU PONTET-CANET 5eme Grand Cru Classe Pauillac 2021 Bottle

Description

Château Pontet-Canet, a prestigious Pauillac estate founded in 1725, has garnered significant acclaim for its exemplary wines. The 2021 vintage impresses, receiving 97 points from Wine Enthusiast and 95 points from Decanter. This wine showcases pure berry fruit and cedar aromas, leading to a vibrant palate filled with blackcurrant flavours and ripe acidity. Decanter highlights the wine's fragrant nose and harmonious structure, with fine-grained tannins and a creamy texture. Scoring 95-96 points, James Suckling notes layers of blackberry and blueberry, complemented by earthy undertones. The Wine Advocate describes its exotic aromas of blackberries and spices, with a medium to full-bodied profile and a firm finish. The 2021 vintage promises excellent ageing potential, with optimal enjoyment from 2026 to 2050.

*****

WINE ENTHUSIAST 97 points
Pure berry fruit and cedar aromas, the wine has great purity. It is a straight line of freshness as well as black-currant fruits and ripe acidity. The wine is beautifully textured and firm at its core. Drink from 2028. Organic and biodynamic. — Roger Voss

DECANTER 95 points
Gorgeous fragrance on the nose, so perfumed and floral - really vibrant - you can smell the Cabernet and the Petit Verdot on the nose. Juiciness straight away from a burst of high acidity focussed on blackcurrant and black cherry with both a fragrance, spice and minerality following. This really hits you square on - it's not opulent but it’s so fully flavoured, forward and upfront. Tannins are fine-grained but plentiful, they hold the structure and give the frame while the creaminess and freshness gives an expansive aspect to the palate. There's refinement and an aerial quality here despite the clear Pauillac power. The Cabernet fruit is in full shine mode, giving a eucalyptus, perfumed berry and black pepper touch. Structured and supple with grape and terroir characteristics. If you love Pontet, and classic Pauillac claret, this is an impressive reference point. Skilled winemaking from technical director Mathieu Bessonet. 4% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. Drinking Window 2026 - 2050 - Georgina Hindle 04/22

JAMES SUCKLING 5***** 95-96 points
Plenty of blackberry and blueberry with wet earth and crushed stone. Some spice,tobacco and lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with layered tannins and brightness. Fine and chewy at the end.

VINOUS 93 points
The 2021 Pontet Canet, which contains a little more Petit Verdot than usual, was bottled in July. It has a very attractive bouquet with pure black fruit, cedar and light iris flower scents. It is not powerful, yet there is elegance here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a crisp line of acidity. Just a hint of mocha lurks in the background, but there is a satisfying, almost citric freshness toward the finish. Suggestions of graphite linger on the aftertaste. I have not spared Pontet Canet from criticism in recent vintages, but that said, I really warmed to this 2021, and it should age with style. - Neal Martin

THE WINE ADVOCATE (91 - 93) points
Offering up wild, exotic aromas of blackberries, cloves and Indian spices mingled with notions of rose petal, bruised orchard fruit and cherry pit that evolve rapidly in the glass, the 2021 Pontet-Canet is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a layered mid-palate and refined tannins that assert themselves on the firm, saline finish. Always one of the Médoc's most singular, idiosyncratic wines, it will be interesting to see how it performs in bottle. - William Kelley 04/22

JANCIS ROBINSON 16.5 points
Tasted blind. Concentrated, purplish crimson. Some freshness on the nose. Vibrant but simple blackcurrant. Chewy finish. Marked acidity. Certainly youthful! Giving this the benefit of the doubt. It’s no fun now but should come right. (JR)