Country: France Region: Bordeaux (Pauillac) Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot Vintage: 2012 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Chateau Pontet Canet Drink: 2015-2031 Description: Proprietor Alfred Tesseron-s 2012 Pontet-Canet is packaged in an engraved, heavy bottle, which only adds to the attractiveness of this beauty. A dense purple color is accompanied by notes of forest floor, acacia flowers and creme de cassis in this full, rich, and unequivocally classic Pauillac. With soft but noticeable tannins as well as a complete, full-bodied mouthfeel, this 2012 will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for 15-20 years. Bravo! Drink 2017-2037. Score: 93+ Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (212), April 2014 Once again proprietor Alfred Tesseron has produced a wine of first-growth potential. One of the superstars of the vintage, Pontet-Canet 2012 exhibits an opaque purple color and a glorious bouquet of incense, subtle toast and copious quantities of creme de cassis. There is a floral underpinning, decent acidity and ripe tannin to this full-bodied effort. Big, rich, round and generously endowed, it should drink well for 20-25+ years. Score: 93/95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (200), April 2012 A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2012 Pontet Canet has a voluptuous bouquet with saturated dark cherry fruit, crème de cassis and a touch of blueberry with underlying minerality. It is exuberant, almost ostentatious at first, but it begins to calm down with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm structured cloaked by layers of ripe black fruit infused with minerals and graphite. It is a quite a strict Pontet Canet underneath what is a hell of a lot of fruit for a 2012. The finish is composed with a touch of citrus fruit towards the finish. Amazing that such a good wine comes from 90% of the crop. Tasted April 2012. Score: 94/96 Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2012 A wine with lots of ripe berries, verging on dried fruits. Full and chewy with ripe, round, chewy tannins. It needs lots of bottle age. A wine of steel. From biodynamically grown grapes, as always. Better than from barrel. Try in 2018. Score: 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 2014 A wine with very clear fruit definition and minerals with hints of flowers. Full body with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Mineral and dried flowers. Long and crisp. Lovely quality of tannins here. Racy. Love to see a little more fruit concentration in mid-palate. Score: 92/93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2012 Alfred Tesseron has been making classic Pauillac here every year since the excellent 1994 and recent vintages have been amongst the best ever, scoring impressively when shown in blind tastings. Pontet Canet is now pushing the Pichons as Pauillac top non-first growth. Grapes are manually sorted by a team of 30 people on specially made sorting tables. The vineyard is now 100% organic and bio-dynamic and worked by horses. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot in 60% new oak. Pontet Canet is now consistently producing wine of "super-second" quality that are even starting to match the First Growths. This is Bordeaux's hottest name right now. The yield in 2011 was only 32hl/ha which will result in 25% less wine being produced. A deep purple colour and a powerful nose that wafts aromas of black cassis fruit and licorice. On the palate it is massive, thick and chewy with great intensity and purity. A bold, black powerhouse with oak and tannin to match the impressive weight of fruit. Another Pontet Canet at a super-second level and one of the wines of the vintage. Alfred believes it to be half way between 2008 and 2009 in quality. Score: 17+ Farr Vintners, March 2012 There is a good depth of fruit on the nose with powerful black fruits filling out the start of the palate. Layers of flavour give complexity cassis and black cherry underpinned by fresher bramble and bilberry. The tannins are well handled giving structure but not aggressive so that the mid palate has richness and suppleness. Score: 91/94 Derek Smedley MW, April 2012 A lighter wine than 2010's brilliant effort, but the team at this stellar fifth growth has interpreted the vintage with honesty and no little skill. Perfumed, serious and structured, with flavours of fruitcake and vanilla and fine tannins. Late picking and rigorous selection was the key to success here, confirming Pontet-Canet status as a super second in all but name. 12+ years. Score: 96 Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2012 Wild violets and black fruit nose, both exuberant and classic. It is a wonderfully elegant Pauillac with superb vineyard expression. Drink 2016-2035 Score: 18 Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2012