Alfred Tesseron has been at the helm of Pontet Canet since the 1994 vintage, regularly making one of the top wines of the vintage. The estate has now been biodynamic for 10 years and horses are used for work in the vineyard.
Their 2015 is made up of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine is being aged in 50% new oak, 15% one year old barrels and 35% in concrete egg-shaped amphoras, installed in 2012 and which Tesseron feels allow better fruit expression.
The 2015, which comes in at only 13.5% alcohol, is pure yet ripe, with a lovely sweet core of fruit, good minerality, combining great balance and well-integrated tannins, and a fabulous long finish.
We hear from the Bordeaux courtiers that the chateau has released 40% less than last year with no second tranche planned, so would strongly advise followers of this chateau to place their orders promptly.
Ch Pontet Canet 5ème Grand Cru Classé Pauillac 2015
£795 per 12 bottles IB
£805 per 6 (150cl) magnums IB
Dense dark opaque colour. Strikingly clear crisp dark currant flavours. This is a firm and intense style, with a steely tannic structure, with brooding savoury flavours and noticeable freshness on the finish. Drink 2022-2032. Goedhuis, Score: 91-93
It has a pure and perfumed bouquet with small dark cherries, red plum and subtle violet scents, perhaps a little Margaux-like in style, the second showing demonstrating a little more red fruit character. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy texture on the entry. There is nicely judged acidity here, moderate depth, very supple tannin that lend this a silky texture. There is modest weight towards the second half, perhaps spicier than some of its Pauillac peers with an edgy, lightly peppered finish. It is an intriguing and complex, almost mercurial Pontet-Canet, a wine that I suspect will gain more weight during its élevage. Afford this 5-8 years in bottle and you should have a delicious, intellectual Pontet-Canet on your hands. Neal Martin, Score: 94-96
This is a dark and intense Pontet-Canet with brooding power on the nose and exceptional intensity. There was very little second label made and so the cépage reflects basically the balance of vines planted on the property. 95% of the wine made here with Pontet-Canet on the label is Grand Vin and this is remarkable. The energy and vitality is sensational in this imposing wine and there is already immediate harmony in this blend. The power and innate resonance here is to be admired. The silkiness and texture here is unlike other wines with superb harmony which makes it all the more fascinating because of the counterpoint between the darker hue in the centre and its bright red rim. It opened up beautifully in the glass and showed spectacular grainy tannins marked by spicy oak. The spice must come from the hot period in the summer and I noticed this in increasing numbers to top wines as my tour progressed. This is also a very long wine on the finish. Matthew Jukes, Score: 19+
One of the wines of the vintage, the 2015 Pontet-Canet oozes class, finesse and pure pedigree. A hypothetical combination of the 2010 (for its dark fruit and tannic structure) and the 2009 (for its voluptuous fruit), the 2015 offers remarkable intensity, power and grace. A host of exotic floral and spice notes wrap around the dark, racy finish. In a word: magnificent! Antonio Galloni, Score: 95-98
