Château Pontet-Canet - Pauillac (Grand Cru Classé) 2005 (750ml)

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Producer	Château Pontet-Canet
Country	France
Region	Bordeaux
Subregion	Pauillac
Varietal	Merlot,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  Cabernet Franc,  Petit Verdot
Vintage	2005
Sku	111613
Size	750ml
ABV	13.00%

 

MT

Jean-François de Pontet had made a name for himself at the court in Versailles, where he had held the position of Grand Ecuyer (Master of the Horse) to Louis XV. Upon his return to Guyenne, he became Governor of the Médoc. In 1705, he purchased a few acres of land to the north of the village of Pauillac, which he turned into a vineyard. A few years later, he added several parcels in a place called Canet. As was the custom at the time, he added his own name to that of his land in order to give his estate a recognisable identity. A century later, Château Pontet-Canet was flourishing and became one of the select few to join the famous 1855 classification, which had been ordered by Napoleon III.

In 1865, the estate changed hands for the first time and became the property of a wine merchant, Herman Cruse. The Cruse family kept the estate for 110 years, until 1975, when it was acquired by Guy Tesseron, a cognac merchant. Over the course of three centuries, Château Pontet-Canet has known only three owners, three families... A rarity indeed in the Médoc.

Forget everything, start afresh and erase old habits in order to re-connect with nature, be born anew … Alfred Tesseron and his team, led by Jean-Michel Comme, Pontet-Canet’s régisseur (estate manager) since 1989, have completely transformed both the vineyard and the identity of Château Pontet-Canet. Leaving behind conventional vinegrowing techniques in order to embrace organic and biodynamic methods, they have allowed the terroir to reclaim its origins; the vines seem liberated and the grapes have never been more beautiful. The wines of Pontet-Canet have progressed so much that they are now among the most prestigious in Bordeaux.

The family's avowed ambition is to pass on the history of Château Pontet-Canet and secure its future. Today, it is Guy Tesseron’s descendants who own the estate: Alfred and his nieces Mélanie and Philippine, daughters of his late brother Gérard. Together, they have the same outlook. Alfred shares his vision of the estate with Mélanie, passing on to her its traditions, his outlook on vinegrowing and his passion for wine. The future looks bright...

A shared state of mind and a particular sensitivity are the key factors which have propelled Château Pontet-Canet to the summit of Bordeaux wines in recent years. They are the expression of the Tesseron family’s quiet determination to ensure continuity over the long term.

Very intense colour. Very intense nose, marked by notes of cherry, blackbery and redcurrant with traces of vanilla, liquorice and cedar. The attack is full to the palate. The tannins of great smoothness reveal a fine elegance. The finish, with no trace of aggressiveness, is marked by a good length.

Their first 100% organic/BD vintage. This is as deep as the 2008 from cask! Very shiny, healthy crimson. Lip smacking. Spicy nose and velvety texture. Just oozing life. Great balance. Really lots of tannin but lovely soft tannins. Masses of tannin there but masses of fruit too. Great exuberance yet balanced. Kerpow! But still extremely youthful.

#7 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2008

Very intense color and nose, marked by notes of cherry, blackberry and redcurrant with traces of vanilla, liquorice and cedar. The attack is full to the palate. The tannins of great smoothness reveal a fine elegance. The finish, with no trace of aggressiveness, is marked by a good length.

Critical Acclaim

JD98
Jeb Dunnuck
Always showing well, this bottle of 2005 Château Pontet Canet was just about pure perfection in a glass. Still youthful ruby/purple-hued, with a gorgeous core of pure cassis and darker currant fruits, it's full-bodied and has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, and textbook Pauillac graphite, lead pencil, and subtle tobacco and cedar aromas and flavors. It's a big, rich, powerful 2005 with flawlessly integrated tannins, remarkable purity, and a finish that won't quit. While it's still another 5-10 years away from being completely mature, it unquestionably offers incredible pleasure today.
RP97
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted at the Pontet-Canet vertical in London, the 2005 Château Pontet-Canet has long been one of the stars of the vintage and this might well be the best of over a dozen showings of this wine. However, do not expect ostentation on the nose. This is 2005 and like many wines of this vintage, even with considerable decanting, it remained broody and introspective on the nose, as if it is checking you out and seeing if you are worthy. Once you have been accepted, then it swings the doors open to reveal gorgeous scents of blackberry, briary and cassis fruit, perhaps a little more sous-bois than I have noticed compared to previous bottles. The palate is medium-bodied, but dense and structured—certainly a more masculine Pontet-Canet built for long-term ageing. Yet it retains marvelous freshness and vitality all the way through to the pencil-lead, quite saline finish. I suspect that the 2009 Pontet-Canet is more approachable than the 2005, so heeding Robert Parker's sage advice, afford this up to ten years in your cellar and then reap the rewards of patience.
WS96
Wine Spectator
Black in color, with aromas of blackberry, black licorice, tar, mineral and fresh flowers. Full-bodied and powerful, with ultrafine tannins that last for minutes on the palate. A polished, thought-provoking wine. Shows wonderful purity of Cabernet Sauvignon.
CG95
Connoisseurs' Guide
Here is a rich and powerful wine that shows off the ripeness of the vintage without losing its varietal and territorial ways. Deep, keenly defined curranty Cabernet Sauvignon fruit sits at its heart while hints of cigar box, briar and forest-floor keep it very much in the Pauillac fold. Its rounded entry is soon followed plenty of gripping tannins, and, while structured for keeping, it conveys a wonderful impression of fruity volume even now.
WE94
Wine Enthusiast
Despite its core of strength and power and obvious aging ability, this is already a delicious wine, with mint aromas, ripe fruit masking the solid tannins. This estate has been on a roll for several years, and this 2005 shows why.
W&S90
Wine & Spirits
Drawn into a tannic trance, this wine's fresh black raspberry flavor moves through blueberry skin into a graphite, mineral blackout. Before the tannin, it shows a deep reservoir of fruit and the rich espresso-roast scent of fine oak. The texture is meaty, the structure set for long evolution in the cellar. Diageo Château & Estate Wines, NY