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Pontet Canet

The Winery

Château Pontet-Canet

"For us, working biodynamically, like Chinese medicine, is a holistic approach. It’s not some magic wand, nor is it a gimmick. It’s constant, everyday work that puts us in close touch with the vineyard."
- Alfred Tesseron, Proprietor

Château Pontet-Canet is one of the largest producers in Pauillac, Bordeaux. Production is around 20,000 cases of their grand vin and 20,000 of their second label per annum. It is a classified Fifth Growth, but many argue that it is boasting at least Second Growth wines. There’s a saying “you are the company you keep” and Pontet-Canet is a close neighbor to Château Mouton-Rothschild. The vineyard practices are biodynamic, even down to the use of horses in lieu of tractors. The Château was the first major Bordeaux wine producer to earn its 'AB', the organic certification for France. Grapes are hand picked, and soils are typical of Medoc - well drained, warm and spare.

Proprietor Alfred Tesseron realized the challenges he had with the property, and looked to Michel Rolland as a consulting oenologist. While most wineries look to modernize, Tesseron maintains that everything should be done by hand. They don’t even use computers to assist with production in the cellar or in the vineyard. Old school. As a Fifth Growth, these wines are under-dogs. Here are some vintages worth rooting for: 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2005.

www.pontet-canet.com

2010
Out of Stock
3L
WA100
JS100
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Tasting Notes

WA100
An absolutely amazing wine, from grapes harvested between the end of September and October 17, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot has close to 15% natural alcohol. It comes from one of the few biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux, but you are likely to see many more, given the success that Tesseron seems to be having at all levels, both in his vineyards and in his fermentation/winemaking. An astounding, compelling wine with the classic Pauillac nose more often associated with its cross-street neighbor, Mouton-Rothschild, creme de cassis, there are also some violets and other assorted floral notes. The wine has off-the-charts massiveness and intensity but never comes across as heavy, overbearing or astringent. The freshness, laser-like precision, and full-bodied, massive richness and extract are simply remarkable to behold and experience. It is very easy, to become jaded tasting such great wines from a great vintage, but it is really a privilege to taste something as amazing as this. Unfortunately, it needs a good decade of cellaring, and that’s assuming it doesn’t close down over the next few years. This is a 50- to 75-year wine from one of the half-dozen or so most compulsive and obsessive proprietors in all of Bordeaux. Is there anything that proprietor Alfred Tesseron is not doing right? Talk about an estate that is on top of its game! Pontet-Canet’s 2010 is a more structured, tannic and restrained version of their most recent perfect wine, the 2009. Kudos to Pontet-Canet!
JS100
The aromas to this are incredible with blueberry, minerals, dried flowers, and stones. It goes to dried meat and spices. Full body and incredibly integrated with blackberry, licorice, and minerals. There's a wonderful purity to this. It goes on…

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