Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac 2022 - 5ème Grand Cru Classé BIO

This wine has become one of the most sought-after in the Médoc thanks to an extraordinary partnership between Jean-Michel Comme—a passionate, charismatic estate manager dedicated to authenticity—and Alfred Tesseron, an equally committed owner-manager willing to take any risk. Their collaboration has enabled the vineyard’s transition to organic viticulture—an inspiration to all their neighbors—and the refinement of winemaking techniques tailored to their quest for authenticity in expressing the terroir and the vintage. There is no longer a second wine; the entire harvest goes into the grand vin. In terms of style, in recent vintages, a portion of the wine aged in concrete tanks perfectly balances the oak and releases the full aromatic purity of an exceptional wine.

 

The most recent vintages are exceptionally well-developed, offering wines of exceptional elegance and silkiness. The 2022 vintage lives up to expectations, with the energy, freshness, and intensity on the palate that we had detected during the en primeur tasting. The texture is velvety, and the tannins are very fine-grained. Concentrated, yet refined.

Owned by the Tesseron family, Pontet-Canet owes a great deal to the tireless work of Jean-Michel Comme, who spearheaded the transition to biodynamic farming and has shaped the winemaking process for some thirty years. He left the estate in May 2020, handing the reins to Mathieu Bessonnet. In any case, the estate is well on its way, and there is every indication that it will continue along the path it has charted. It is now up to Justine Tesseron, Alfred’s daughter and the estate’s current leader, to keep Pontet-Canet in this league of its own. A tour of the cellar, the horse stables, and the winemaking facilities reveals just how far the château has taken its vision of excellence and respect for nature to the extreme—whether the naysayers like it or not. As a pioneer, Pontet-Canet has sparked a powerful movement in the Médoc that has since set the standard.

The nose is dominated by impressive aromas of black fruits. This dense, concentrated wine offers a beautiful tannic structure, along with notes of blackcurrant of great purity and youthful freshness. It is a masterful wine, whose power and aromatic richness are perfectly balanced by a beautiful fruity expression. Best enjoyed starting in 2029. Produced using organic and biodynamic farming methods. - Roger Voss

The blend of dried herbs—such as thyme, sage, and mint—intermingled with aromas of blackcurrant and Spanish cedar is captivating. Full-bodied and dense on the palate, this wine features creamy, crisp tannins and a long, savory finish that lingers for a long time. Powerful and rich, it reveals the full character of Pontet-Canet despite a hot and dry growing season. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Best enjoyed after 2029.

A sensational Pauillac, and the estate’s finest wine since 2009 (though the 2010 might well rival it). The 2022 Château Pontet-Canet boasts an intense purple color and exudes a divine bouquet of blackcurrant liqueur, smoke, incense, tobacco, and chocolate. This wine, of exceptional purity, offers a rich, complex, and multidimensional palate, perfect balance, and incredible aromatic and flavor precision. Despite its opulence and power, it is built on a solid structure and silky, polished tannins. With remarkable depth and concentration, it borders on perfection. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it firm up slightly over the next 3 to 5 years, though I don’t expect it to ever lose its splendor. Its aging potential is estimated at 40, 50, or even 60 years. The 2022 vintage is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the remainder Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged 50% in new barrels, 35% in amphorae, and the rest in previously used oak barrels. 2037–2097

What energy, precision, finesse, and authenticity in the Pontet Canet bouquet! What a presence on the palate, right from the first sip, with a clear connection between the bouquet and the palate. The wine is powerful, deep, and elegant. It manages to stand out like no other with a distinct identity; it is simply itself, and that is worth its weight in gold, especially as it so effectively balances its finesse with its power. A savory, precise, long, and austere wine with an energetic, invigorating, and captivating austerity that certainly extends the finish. 2028–2052