Château Pontet-Canet 2011 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Not included in the blind tasting. A bottle from our personal collection, very full-bodied and flavorful on the nose and palate, with distinct tobacco notes, and a texture of rare smoothness.

About the estate:

This wine has become one of the most sought-after in the Médoc thanks to an exceptional partnership: Jean-Michel Comme, a charismatic and passionate estate manager dedicated to authenticity, and Alfred Tesseron, an equally committed and risk-taking owner and administrator. Their close collaboration enabled the vineyard's conversion to organic viticulture, inspiring all the neighbors, and the refinement of a winemaking process perfectly suited to their quest for truth in expressing the terroir and the vintage. There is no longer a second wine; the entire harvest is used for the grand vin. Stylistically, in recent vintages, a proportion of aging in concrete tanks perfectly balances the oak influence and releases the full aromatic purity of this exceptional wine.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Are we still in the world of wine, with its talk of concentration and finesse? Perhaps we should instead speak of a luminous freshness, like a spring morning in the mountains. The most mineral-driven wine tasted in 2011.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2011 Pontet-Canet comes in a heavy bottle, which adds to the appeal of this beauty. The deep purple color is accompanied by notes of undergrowth, acacia flowers, and crème de cassis, resulting in a full-bodied, rich, and classic Pauillac. With soft yet noticeable tannins and a full-bodied palate, this 2011 will benefit from another 3 to 4 years in the cellar and should age effortlessly for 15–20 years. Bravo!

About the estate:

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

About the wine:

What can be said about the 2011 vintage? It offers a unique mineral character.

About the estate:

Owned by the Tesseron family, Pontet-Canet owes much to the tireless work of Jean-Michel Comme, the architect of the transition to biodynamic farming and the driving force behind the winemaking process for some thirty years. He left the estate in May 2020, handing the reins to Mathieu Bessonnet. Nevertheless, the estate is off to a great start, and there's no reason to believe it won't continue along the path he forged. It now falls to Justine Tesseron, Alfred's daughter, and now at the helm, to maintain Pontet-Canet's exceptional status. A visit to the cellars, the stables, and the winemaking facilities reveals the extent to which the château has pushed its vision of excellence and respect for nature to the extreme, much to the chagrin of the naysayers. A pioneer, Pontet-Canet has instilled a powerful current in the Médoc, one that has since become a model for others.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Harmonious, this is a rich and magnificent wine. Although it is bursting with blackcurrant and spice, its texture is impressive. The tannins are beautifully integrated with the juicy fruit. The purest fruit notes are combined with the tannins in a precise yet generous manner. This wine is aging wonderfully.