Château Pontet-Canet 2022

Intense color and aroma, a bouquet swinging between ripe fruit and cool expression—cherry, plum, blackcurrant, floral notes—a poem; crisp palate, silkiness and drive, no heaviness, a stunning fruit backbone, sensational tannins; almost endless on the finish. Pure emotion, a kind of symbiosis of 2009 and 2010 Pontet-Canet.

Alluring and smoldering, with dark violet, iris and anise notes infusing the core of plum sauce and dark currant preserves. A bolt of cast iron runs underneath, and there's a late tug of freshly tilled humus on the finish, all while the fruit keeps the upper hand. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2042.

Dark and ripe on the nose, with deep blackcurrant, cocoa powder, and espresso notes alongside fragrant dried herbs, adding a savoury elegance. The palate is clean and crisp, offering a streamlined weight and a lovely bite to the tannins — powdery yet refined, with hints of milk chocolate and bitter orange. Restrained power meets finesse, with a touch of spice and soft warmth on the finish. Still youthful and compact, but incredibly detailed, with pure, bright fruit shining through. One of the finest Pontet-Canets in years — round, complete, and beautifully textured. Bright, finessed, and highly accessible.

The concentration of dried herbs such as thyme, sage and mint with blackcurrants and Spanish cedar is mesmerizing. Full-bodied with a dense and intense palate, this has creamy, crunchy tannins and a long and flavorful finish that goes on for minutes. Punchy and rich with lots of power. The real identity of Pontet-Canet comes through despite the hot and dry growing year. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2029.

The 2022 Pontet Canet has a relatively straightforward nose with brambly black fruit, raspberry and cedar scents, opening nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded, quite assertive tannins matched by a keen thread of acidity. Very dense and long, this is a Pauillac that clearly needs a couple of years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Almost opaque in color, its dark purple hue reveals enticing aromas of black cherries, blue fruits, flowers, licorice, and tobacco leaf when coaxed. The palate showcases layers of blackberries, black cherries, espresso, chocolate, and spice, balancing density, richness, elegance, length, freshness, and purity. There is no sensation of heat or over-ripeness in this wine, whether in the mid-palate or finish. The wine blends 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. 14.7% ABV. Drink from 2028–2060.

A sensational Pauillac as well as the finest wine from this château since the 2009 (although the 2010 might have something to say about that), the 2022 Château Pontet-Canet sports a deep purple hue as well as a heavenly perfume of crème de cassis, smoke, incense, leafy tobacco, and chocolate. This beauty has sensational purity, a deep, layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, flawless balance, and incredible precision and detail in its aromas and flavors. Despite its opulence and power, it has a solid underlying structure, and its tannins are sweet and polished; it has remarkable depth and concentration, and it just does everything right. I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up slightly over the coming 3-5 years, although I don't expect it to truly shut down. It should have 40, 50, if not 60 years of overall longevity. The 2022 is based on 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 50% new barrels, 35% in amphora, and the rest in once-used oak.

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Harvest: -20% compared to last year. Delicate bouquet of freshly picked alpine blueberries, dried rose petals and graphite, followed by Moroccan mint, elderberry jelly and light tobacco. On the layered, well-toned palate, immense depth and impressive density, with a silky-creamy texture, vibrant verve and a cocoa-like, tightly knit tannic frame. The concentrated, long-lasting finish shows blueberry contours, dark minerality and fine-grained astringency. This year stands out for its purity and elegance, with great cellaring potential. Justine describes the picking as “à la carte,” and there’s nothing to add!

Deep plum colour, iodine on the nose, this is gorgeously nuanced, does not give the impression of an extremely hot dry vintage, and retains energy. Perhaps not quite the depth through the mid-palate of the very best vintages of Pontet, but packed with graphite, crushed raspberry, griotte cherry, black chocolate, crayon. Bright lift through the palate, along with high spice, and muscular tannins. Shorter than average ageing, finishing in cement vats for five months. A single point upscore. First year with lighter bottle.

A radiant, vibrant nose—a wild-berry bomb—with the freshness of leaves and sap, plus ripe raspberry and opulent flowers. Lively and vivid, pure and silky on the palate, it unfolds with concentrated yet fresh small black fruits, and powerful but fine tannins.

So much energy, precision, delicacy, and authenticity in the bouquet of Pontet Canet! What presence on the palate from the very first attack, with an obvious correlation between nose and palate. The wine is powerful, deep, and elegant. It manages to carve out a profile like no other with a clear identity; it is simply itself, and that is worth its weight in gold, especially as it delivers such finesse within a powerful framework. A savory, precise, long, and strict wine with an energetic austerity—lively and compelling—that doesn’t fail to draw out the finish.

Dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, delicately smoky with herbal spice, black forest fruits, some cassis, liquorice, vanilla and candied orange zest. The palate is very powerful, with a sweet texture, subtle acidity, minerality, dark nougat notes and some caramel on the saline, chalky finish; somewhat demanding at this stage, will benefit from bottle ageing. A wine for lovers of refined, strong wines. (14.7%) (1/25, +30, PM).

The nose is beautifully crafted, fresh, chiselled, precise, and offers refined, well-judged power as well as a lovely texture. Nicely complex and juicy. It reveals notes of juicy wild blackcurrant, raspberry, violet and lily, combined with touches of bright red berries, subtle hints of green pepper and fresh blond tobacco, as well as a hint of cumin and spices. The palate is beautifully handled, supple, fresh, elegant, finely chiselled, and offers a very nice grain and texture. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackcurrant, violet and, more lightly, elegant roasted raspberry, combined with touches of bright red berries, as well as hints of cardamom and graphene, with subtle notes of coffee, toast, delicate infusion tones and elegant darkness. The tannins are beautifully managed, elegant, racy, chalky. A lovely, discreet sappy touch. Great depth, especially on the finish.

The aroma is dominated by impressive black fruit flavors. The wine, dense and concentrated, is full of dark tannins, black currant fruits with great purity and youthful freshness. It is a magisterial wine with its strength and power balanced by great fruits. Drink from 2029. Organic and biodynamic.