Pontet Canet 2006

Pauillac, Fifth Growth

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Tasting Notes
Saturated medium ruby. Inky cassis, black raspberry, graphite and pungent minerality on the very ripe nose. Dense, rich and silky, with a brooding inky minerality and an almost liqueur-like dark fruit sweetness leavened by a savory peppery element. This very ripe, deep and concentrated wine boasts wonderful lushness without any undue weight thanks to its sheer energy. Like its neighbor Mouton-Rothschild, Pontet-Canet's 2006 conveys a powerful impression of soil character. Finishes with serious dusty tannins and superb lingering sweetness. Should be long-lived. Score: 94 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009
The 2006 is a wine to stockpile, especially for those in their thirties and forties as it needs another decade to reach maturity, after which it should keep for 30+ years. This vineyard, just south of Mouton Rothschild, has produced an opaque bluish/purple-colored 2006 with an extraordinarily pure nose of graphite, charcoal, sweet creme de cassis, and a hint of scorched earth. Incredible concentration, stunning richness, and a 60-second finish result in a wine that transcends the vintage as well as this estate’s 1855 classification. This enormously endowed, modern day classic is a legend in the making. Enormous credit is due proprietor Alfred Tesseron for turning things around at this estate in 1994, and continuing to produce first-growth level wines. Pontet-Canet is one of the few bio-dynamically farmed vineyards in the Medoc, and Tesseron is such a perfectionist in both the vineyard and wine cellars that his nickname among other bordelais is 'Monsieur Bonsai.' (95+ points) Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2050+ 01 March 2009
One can’t say enough about the extraordinary quality proprietor Alfred Tesseron has achieved at Pontet-Canet over the last decade. The 2006 is another massive wine that may be as backward and concentrated as its nearby neighbor, Mouton Rothschild. Boasting a dense purple/black color in addition to aromas of creme de cassis, incense, burning embers/charcoal, and pain grille, it is monstrous in the mouth with huge flavor concentration, extremely high tannins, and significant extract. Tesseron’s goal appears to be a 50+ year wine. The 2006 requires a decade of patience. Score: 93 - 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2016-2040+ 01 April 2007
Tasted three times, this note from the château. Now this is a stunning wine from a property that is both innovative and embracing traditional techniques of vinification. This is their best wine I have ever tasted out of barrel and could surpass even the 2005. A very deep garnet core. The nose leaps from the glass with blackberry, violets and a sense of minerality that I have never encountered before with Pontet-Canet. The palate is beautifully poise with again, an unerring sense of minerality and delineation. Blackberries, violets and a touch of cassis, I cannot help feel that Alfred Tesseron and winemaker Jean-Michel Comme have leapfrogged both Pichon’s this year. An elegant, wonderful poised finish with freshness on tongue. Just a fabulous wine. Tasted April 2007. Score: 94 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 19 April 2007
Big and rich, with lots of round and velvety tannins. Full-bodied and very ripe, with a long flavorful finish. A beauty. Voluptuous for the vintage, with lots of currant and berry character. Score: 92 - 94 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007
From 1994, Alfred Tesseron has engineered a dramatic reversal of fortunes at this Classed Growth. With Michel Rolland consultant here since 1999, the dry, austere wines of yesteryear replaced by dynamic wines of great richness and glamour. The 2006 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep inky crimson, with an intense nose of pure licorice fruit and exotic spiciness. Abundant flesh and weight allied to sweet fruit, vibrancy and purity, with a suggestion of slate and minerally Pauillac character. The tannins are hefty but velvety and ripe, and there is great persistence. This is impressive and really stands out from the crowd. Another exceptionally good Pontet Canet. Score: 93 - 95 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007
Dark, blackish crimson. Very dark. Something a bit strange on the nose. Vegetation plus molasses. Not totally compact or together. A bit soft and messy on the finish. Pretty dry and inky on the finish and lacking real concentration too - diffuse. Julia's note, with a score of 16+: Rich spicy fruit with hints of aromatic violets. Lovely purity. Disappointingly dry and a bit tough on the finish after the nose promised so much, but maybe it will soften (hence the plus)? Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2020 01 April 2007

Tasting Notes

Saturated medium ruby. Inky cassis, black raspberry, graphite and pungent minerality on the very ripe nose. Dense, rich and silky, with a brooding inky minerality and an almost liqueur-like dark fruit sweetness leavened by a savory peppery element. This very ripe, deep and concentrated wine boasts wonderful lushness without any undue weight thanks to its sheer energy. Like its neighbor Mouton-Rothschild, Pontet-Canet's 2006 conveys a powerful impression of soil character. Finishes with serious dusty tannins and superb lingering sweetness. Should be long-lived.

Score: 94

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009

The 2006 is a wine to stockpile, especially for those in their thirties and forties as it needs another decade to reach maturity, after which it should keep for 30+ years. This vineyard, just south of Mouton Rothschild, has produced an opaque bluish/purple-colored 2006 with an extraordinarily pure nose of graphite, charcoal, sweet creme de cassis, and a hint of scorched earth. Incredible concentration, stunning richness, and a 60-second finish result in a wine that transcends the vintage as well as this estate’s 1855 classification. This enormously endowed, modern day classic is a legend in the making. Enormous credit is due proprietor Alfred Tesseron for turning things around at this estate in 1994, and continuing to produce first-growth level wines. Pontet-Canet is one of the few bio-dynamically farmed vineyards in the Medoc, and Tesseron is such a perfectionist in both the vineyard and wine cellars that his nickname among other bordelais is 'Monsieur Bonsai.' (95+ points)

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2050+ 01 March 2009

One can’t say enough about the extraordinary quality proprietor Alfred Tesseron has achieved at Pontet-Canet over the last decade. The 2006 is another massive wine that may be as backward and concentrated as its nearby neighbor, Mouton Rothschild. Boasting a dense purple/black color in addition to aromas of creme de cassis, incense, burning embers/charcoal, and pain grille, it is monstrous in the mouth with huge flavor concentration, extremely high tannins, and significant extract. Tesseron’s goal appears to be a 50+ year wine. The 2006 requires a decade of patience.

Score: 93 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2016-2040+ 01 April 2007

Tasted three times, this note from the château. Now this is a stunning wine from a property that is both innovative and embracing traditional techniques of vinification. This is their best wine I have ever tasted out of barrel and could surpass even the 2005. A very deep garnet core. The nose leaps from the glass with blackberry, violets and a sense of minerality that I have never encountered before with Pontet-Canet. The palate is beautifully poise with again, an unerring sense of minerality and delineation. Blackberries, violets and a touch of cassis, I cannot help feel that Alfred Tesseron and winemaker Jean-Michel Comme have leapfrogged both Pichon’s this year. An elegant, wonderful poised finish with freshness on tongue. Just a fabulous wine. Tasted April 2007.

Score: 94 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 19 April 2007

Big and rich, with lots of round and velvety tannins. Full-bodied and very ripe, with a long flavorful finish. A beauty. Voluptuous for the vintage, with lots of currant and berry character.

Score: 92 - 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

From 1994, Alfred Tesseron has engineered a dramatic reversal of fortunes at this Classed Growth. With Michel Rolland consultant here since 1999, the dry, austere wines of yesteryear replaced by dynamic wines of great richness and glamour. The 2006 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep inky crimson, with an intense nose of pure licorice fruit and exotic spiciness. Abundant flesh and weight allied to sweet fruit, vibrancy and purity, with a suggestion of slate and minerally Pauillac character. The tannins are hefty but velvety and ripe, and there is great persistence. This is impressive and really stands out from the crowd. Another exceptionally good Pontet Canet.

Score: 93 - 95

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

Dark, blackish crimson. Very dark. Something a bit strange on the nose. Vegetation plus molasses. Not totally compact or together. A bit soft and messy on the finish. Pretty dry and inky on the finish and lacking real concentration too - diffuse. Julia's note, with a score of 16+: Rich spicy fruit with hints of aromatic violets. Lovely purity. Disappointingly dry and a bit tough on the finish after the nose promised so much, but maybe it will soften (hence the plus)?

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2020 01 April 2007

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