Chateau Pontet Canet 2023

Château Pontet-Canet 2023 originates from France, within the Bordeaux region and the esteemed Pauillac subregion. Classified as a Fifth Growth (5ème Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate sits on gravel terraces over limestone bedrock directly adjacent to Château Mouton Rothschild. Under the stewardship of the Tesseron family—led by Alfred Tesseron and technical director Mathieu Bessonnet—the château's operational philosophy centers on pioneering sustainable viticulture. Pontet-Canet famously became the first major Médoc estate to embrace certified organic and biodynamic viticulture, utilizing horses rather than heavy machinery to work the soils and preserving the pure expression of its 81-hectare vineyard.

Wine Description

This red wine presents a deep, vibrant purple hue in the glass and possesses a medium-to-full-bodied, seamless, and multidimensional structure. The sensory profile is exceptionally fresh, precise, and aromatic, opening with an expressive bouquet of fresh cassis, mulberries, blueberries, and black cherry, interwoven with delicate nuances of violets, menthol, licorice, squid ink, and graphite minerality. On the palate, it delivers a pure core of dark berry fruit balanced by an energetic natural acidity and a saline, wet-stone tension. The finish is remarkably long, vibrant, and structured, framed by ultra-refined, silky tannins and lingering accents of black tea, dried herbs, and fine spices.

• Varietal Composition: A classic Pauillac blend consisting of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

• Stylistic Notes: The 2023 vintage represents a milestone in precision for the estate, marked by earlier Merlot picking to preserve fresh fruit and an extended Cabernet harvest to refine tannic structure. To achieve its pure fruit definition and discreet oak profile, the wine was aged for 16–18 months in a mix of 50% new French oak barrels, 35% custom concrete/clay amphorae (partly sunken qvevri style), and 15% once-used oak barrels.

• ABV: 13.5%.

• Organic Status: Certified Organic and Certified Biodynamic.

Accolades

99 Points - Jane Anson

One of the wines of the vintage. Slow and steady unrolling of spice, capsicum, fresh acidities, crushed oyster shell and peony, cassis, squid ink and blueberry. Elegant and finessed, capturing the heart of Cabernet Sauvignon in a way that makes me think of Zuccardi and Malbec. Bright unrolling through the palate, great precision and quality with a ton of freshly cut herbs, black tea and fennel, giving life and focus. This was blended before ageing for the first time for at least a decade. Vinified in egg-shaped wooden vats and sunken qvevri-style clay vats. 50% new oak for ageing, with 35% amphora and 15% one year old barrels. New lighter bottle as of the 2022 around 490g, down from 815g in the past, 30 tonnes of CO2 saved just in terms of production.

98 Points - James Suckling

A crunchy and vivid Pontet Canet with aromas of blueberries, blackberries, roses, violets and some sandalwood and graphite. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are long and caressing. Creamy texture, with crushed stones and light cement. Lots of energy at the end. Very approachable and long. Turns chewy and silky, with a bright and vivid finish. From biodynamically grown grapes.