2010 Pontet Canet

The 2010 Pontet-Canet offers a very deep garnet color. Whoa—the nose explodes with a vast array of black fruit preserves and savory nuances: plum preserves, blackcurrant cordial, black cherry coulis and licorice with wafts of dried lavender, melted chocolate, charcuterie, black olives, truffles and camphor plus a hint of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is completely filled with black fruits, exotic spices and earthy nuances with a firm foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. So much more expressive and seductive than a lot of 2010s at this stage, and yet it is still incredibly youthful! 100pts LPB
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!

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #205, Feb 2013)

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Pontet-Canet is a very interesting wine to taste blind. For a start, the untrammelled ripeness and precocity is clearly evident on the nose, so much so that I wrote down "New World" before its identity was revealed. A second bottle is more contained but still "glossy" in style. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated ripe tannins on the entry. The acidity is nicely judged and it is very dense, though it needs more tension and terroir expression. It improves in the glass all the time, mustering more composure and finesse, yet here under blind condition, there was no denying that it is out-classed by some of its peers. That said it remains a great wine from Alfred Tesseron. Tasted January 2014.

– eRobertParker.com, March 2014

This is big, broad and powerfully rendered, but remarkably polished and refined at the same time. An enormous core of roasted fig, blackberry and black currant fruit is suavely wrapped with roasted apple wood and sandalwood, while dark espresso, loam and warm paving stone notes drive the finish. Very long, with a great tug of scorched earth at the end. A terrific combination of power and precision. Best from 2020 through 2040. 25,000 cases made.

– James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2013)

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 for minutes. The quality of tannins is amazing. Seamless. There's an amazing transparency that shows you all the elements of the wine's unique terrior. Try after 2018.

– jamessuckling.com, November 2013

Quality 946 | Brand 983 | Economics 896 | buzz brand
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2010 vintage, 784 Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 27 of the world's top wine lists, including Amber - Mandarin Oriental Economics: Above its peer group average price of £117 for the 2010 vintage Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 151,058 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017