2016 is Alfred Tesseron’s 40th vintage with Pontet Canet, and since the early 1990s he has been making constant improvements. 10 years ago he began converting the vineyards to organic and biodynamic farming with horses.
95% of the total production went into the 2016 Grand Vin, and a part of the maturation was done in amphorae. These cement eggs were installed in 2012 by Tesseron who feels it allows a better fruit expression. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4 Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
The 2016 Pontet Canet is very layered with lots of black fruit interplaying with sweet licorice and savory notes. It is already very rich with an uplifting freshness that continues from start to finish and has garnered widespread acclaim from the critics.
“It brings together the richness of the 2009 with the structure of the 2010” 96-99 points, Antonio Galloni
“This is an extravagant Pauillac for the vintage that will age over many years.” 95-97 points, Neal Martin
This is a unique and intriguing wine which will certainly be hugely sought after.
Ch Pontet Canet 5ème Cru Pauillac 2016
£685.00 per 6 bottles IB
£691.00 per 3 magnums IB
Brilliant shining purple colour, this wine with its sweet flavours of blackcurrant fruits and extraordinarily driven intensity caught many tasters’ eye during the primeurs. A big and concentrated wine, with a full bulky tannic mid-palate, and great length with complexity and personality on the finish. Drink 2027-2035. 93-95 points, Goedhuis & Co
The 2016 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot and 39% Merlot, less Cabernet this year because of the size of the berries. I tasted the wine on two visits to the property around two weeks apart, plus additional tastings at négoçiants. It has an intense bouquet with layers of blackberry, sloes and fresh mint, just a hint of black truffle in the background. It is certainly a little more opulent compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, a little spicier than I expected (in a positive sense) with gentle grip in the mouth. It fans out with confidence, a voluminous Pontet-Canet with an extremely persistent aftertaste, and a saline and balsamic finish. This is an extravagant Pauillac for the vintage that will age over many years. Drink Date 2026 – 2050. 95-97 points, Neal Martin
Vivid and full of energy with blackberry, currant and salt. Full body, intense and long. Harmony. Purpose. Classicism. The mineral and currant character is all year. A seamless tannin texture. Great wine. You want to drink it now! 98-99 points, James Suckling
The 2016 Pontet-Canet has been absolutely brilliant on the three occasions I’ve tasted it so far. Exotically ripe, powerful and voluptuous, it brings together the richness of the 2009 with the structure of the 2010. There aren’t too many other 2016s where that is the case, but it is undoubtedly true here. The 2016 is a spectacular wine by any measure, while Pontet-Canet confirms its rarefied place as a true original in Bordeaux. 96-99 points, Antonio Galloni
This is richly layered with seductively ripe fruit. The quality and texture of the brambled blackberries, cassis and bilberries is striking. There is a sense of lightness and juiciness but also depth and flesh – you can feel the joy of that contrast at every step as the wine stretches out in front of you, hard to resist. 2016 is another vintage where they are up at 95%+ of grand vin, this year aged in 55% new casks, 10% in one year old casks and 35% in amphorae. Feel the effects of biodynamics make Pontet Canet stand out for its energy and lush tannins, even with the concentration of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 97 points, Jane Anson, Decanter
This is an exceedingly rich and decadent Pontet-Canet on the nose, and there is masses of power and amplitude on the palate, too. The fruit is dense, bold, layered and sophisticated and the class and breeding is very plain to see. This is a staggering tour de force for this Château. The balance between modern fruit intensity and fascinating antique flavours is unique. 19.5+ points, Matthew Jukes
