Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2017

Key characteristics:

Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac Grand Cru Classé is a pioneering estate renowned for its unwavering commitment to biodynamic viticulture, setting a benchmark for quality and environmental stewardship in Bordeaux. This Fifth Growth, often lauded for performing at the level of a Second Growth, crafts wines of exceptional purity and depth, reflecting its unique terroir and meticulous, hands-on approach.

Tasting Notes:

• Variety: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
• Appearance: Very attractive, intensely dark colour with purple glints.
• Aroma: The nose offers a magical array of aromatics ranging from graphite and cedar-wood notes to aromas of wild fruit.
• Taste: The depth of flavour on the palate is underpinned by soft tannins and lovely acidity. The finish reveals subtle smoky notes and is amazingly long.
• Region: Situated in the esteemed Pauillac appellation on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, the Château Pontet-Canet vineyard spans 81 hectares. Its terroir is characterized by Günz-era Garonne gravel soils resting on a limestone bedrock, providing excellent drainage and ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon to thrive.
• Pairing: Perfect to be paired with beef fillet, garlic confit lamb mouse, and small game. To pair also with cheeses, preferably mature. As a dessert, it can be enjoyed with a Bavarian cream or a pear and chocolate charlotte.

Overall impression:

This wine delivers a captivating experience, showcasing a profound expression of its Pauillac origins with a vibrant, pure character and remarkably silky tannins. It is a testament to the estate’s philosophy of allowing the terroir to speak through minimal intervention.

Extra notes:

• Château Pontet-Canet was the first Médoc Grand Cru Classé to obtain both organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Biodyvin in 2010, Demeter in 2014) certifications for its entire vineyard.
• The estate employs a team of Percheron horses for vineyard work, avoiding soil compaction from tractors, and utilizes unique amphorae made partly from the vineyard’s own gravel for aging, further enhancing the wine’s expression of its terroir.