Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac 2021 - 5ème Grand Cru Classé BIO

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This vintage has become one of the most sought-after in the Médoc thanks to an extraordinary duo: Jean-Michel Comme, a passionate and charismatic manager, and Alfred Tesseron, an equally committed owner and administrator who is prepared to take risks. Their partnership has enabled the vineyard to convert to organic viticulture, inspiring all their neighbors, and to perfect a working method suited to their quest for truth in the expression of the terroir and the vintage. There is no longer a second wine; the entire harvest is used to make the grand vin. In terms of style, in recent vintages, a proportion of the wine is aged in concrete vats, which perfectly balances the woodiness and releases all the aromatic purity of an exceptional juice.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Owned by the Tesseron family, Pontet-Canet owes much to the hard work of Jean-Michel Comme, who spearheaded the transition to biodynamic farming and has been the architect of the wines' development for some thirty years. He left the estate in May 2020, handing over the reins to Mathieu Bessonnet. In any case, the estate is well established and there is no reason to believe that it will not continue along the path it has carved out for itself. It is now up to Justine Tesseron, Alfred's daughter and now at the helm, to maintain Pontet-Canet's unique status. A visit to the cellar, the horse stables, and the winemaking facilities reveals the extent to which the château has taken its vision of excellence and respect for nature to the extreme, whatever the grumblers may say. A pioneer, Pontet-Canet has breathed new life into the Médoc, setting a trend that is now being followed by others.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

With pure aromas of berries and cedar, the wine itself is very pure. It offers a straightforward profile of freshness, blackcurrant, and ripe acidity. The wine is beautifully textured and firm at its core. Drink from 2028 onwards. Organic and biodynamic.

Terre de Vins

About wine:

Vibrant and, as a bonus, spared from frost. Herbal teas were widely used to combat mildew, and teams working tirelessly saved the day, managing to achieve the appellation's average yield of 35 hl/ha. Under the leadership of technical director Mathieu Bessonnet, work in the vineyard was a rapid response to the vagaries of the weather (for example, all the vines were treated in 11 hours). The reward is clear, with an expressive bouquet of plum jam, redcurrant jelly, and wild mint, a dense and coated tannic structure, and a very silky texture that lingers on the finish with hints of cocoa beans and bitter orange peel. Half of the wine is aged in new barrels, more than a third in concrete amphorae and finally 15% in one-wine barrels. If you are looking for a great wine to taste, this is it!

Yves Beck

About wine:

Pontet Canet 2021 displays an authentic character, precise and well inspired by the terroir! The wine has power and unexpected tension, making it lively and mouthwatering. The tannins, somewhat creamy, are not overpowering or imposing; they do their job well and create symbiosis with the acidic structure. Harmony is thus assured. This is a Pontet Canet that stands out for its vigor and terroir, reminding us that it can perform well regardless of the vintage. That's what makes a great wine. 2027-2047

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is fruity, elegant, distinguished, and offers a lovely purity of fruit, delicacy in its concentration, a very nice finesse of grain, and complexity. There are notes of bright blackcurrant, violet and, more subtly, fresh morello cherry, combined with hints of fleshy/juicy purple plum, licorice, delicate caramelized notes, graphite, racy minerality, subtle hints of crushed berries, and discreet hints of bergamot and cherry blossom. The palate is beautifully executed, delicate, precise and offers purity, juiciness, freshness, lovely definition, nicely worked bitterness, depth, minerality, beautiful energy, a tangy structure and lovely crunchiness/juiciness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cherry, fresh/crunchy morello cherry and, more subtly, violet plum, crunchy/juicy raspberryjuicy raspberry, as well as subtle hints of bright wild berries, licorice, vanilla, discreet hints of bergamot, subtle hints of fresh flowers, fresh rose, a discreet hint of cardamom, fresh hazelnut, and a subtle hint of bourbon vanilla. The tannins are supple. Good length. A lovely success, a classic.

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego

About wine:

Deep purple color with violet highlights and a black core. Opulent nose with a multi-layered character, ripe blackberries, blackcurrants, black cherries, and notes of candied wild berries in the background. Very elegant spices, notes of vanilla and gingerbread. The palate is very structured, a wine with freshness, precision, and elegance, and good length. Excellent fruit and fine spices, notes of bitter chocolate on the finish. A very elegant wine with good tension and promising potential.