The team formed an optimistic view of Pontet Canet 2010 from an impressive vertical tasting on Chateau Pontet Canet conducted by Alfred Tesseron at the Hong Kong KCC Wine Society years back, vintages from 2000 to 2010 tasted in a roll, with 2012 being one of the dinner wine bottles. That evening, the 2010 vintage showed off the fruitiness through its rock-buster style- the palate was relaxed enough to appreciate 2010's power, good balance, fruit and terroir expression.
Chateau Pontet Canet 2010 has always been viewed favourably by wine critics, bloggers, and merchants. It scores consistently. Take, for example, the total 100 points from Robert Parker and Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW. With years of ageing in bottle, Pontet Canet 2010 rounded up.
RRP100. An amazing wine from grapes harvested between the end of September and October 17, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot has close to 15% natural alcohol. It comes from one of the few biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux. Still, you are likely to see many more, given the success that Tesseron seems to be having at all levels, both in his vineyards and in his fermentation/winemaking. An excellent, compelling wine with the classic Pauillac nose more often associated with its cross-street neighbour, Mouton-Rothschild, creme de cassis, there are also some violets and other assorted floral notes. The wine has off-the-charts massiveness and intensity but never comes across as heavy, overbearing or astringent. The freshness, laser-like precision, and full-bodied, massive richness and extract are remarkable to behold and experience. It is straightforward to become jaded tasting such great wines from a great vintage, but it is a privilege to taste something as amazing as this. Unfortunately, it needs a good decade of cellaring, assuming it doesn't close down over the next few years. This is a 50- to 75-year wine from one of Bordeaux's half-dozen or so most compulsive and obsessive proprietors. Is there anything that proprietor Alfred Tesseron needs to do differently? Talk about an estate that is on top of its game! Pontet-Canet's 2010 is a more structured, tannic and restrained version of their most recent perfect wine, 2009. Kudos to Pontet-Canet. Edited.
100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW. The 2010 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-black in colour, it sashays out of the glass with opulent scents of Chinese five spice, smoked meats, and cigar box over a core of prunes, redcurrant jelly, and fruitcake with a waft of espresso. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm, grainy structure with tons of freshness supporting the rich spice and fruit preserves layers, finishing with great length. It is delicious to drink now! Edited.
Updated: May 30, 2023
Like 2005 and 2009, 2010 has a dark hue and a matt, tight, black-tinged, opaque core. The first nose offers plenty of ripe dark fruit; the second has gamey nuances. It is fresher. Again, if you are looking for power, this differs from wine. But if you are looking for Pessac Leognan 's classic elements closer to gravel, tobacco and autumnal leaves, typical of the commune, this is the wine for you. And if you are particularly looking for a substance that helps to enhance the seam of appealingly ripe and sinewy tannins, this is the guy. Persistent and fleeting, the palate soothes with delicate flesh at first, although it is a bit less fat than expected, pleasingly textured throughout the tasting—some mileage. DD94.
The scores are good.
WE93. Fresh, citrus and spicy pear flavours, a wine laced with acidity, a crisp texture and an elegant bright aftertaste. Edited.
JS93. This is a wine that shows lots of chocolate, tobacco and currants. Full body, with velvety tannins and a long finish. All there. Edited.
RP92.From Helene Garcin, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot displays classic tobacco leaf and smoky barbecue notes, rich black currants, and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied, seductive, attractively up-front style. It is a sleeper of the vintage. (RP) Edited.
Medium ruby colour with a tight garnet core. The wine is plummy, fruity(red primarily fruited), ripe and soft. It is easy to understand with good complexity and texture, and is very pleasing and harmonious. This bottle is in its best window to savour now of medium palate.
Scores reflect well the style and value.
RP90. Sexy, lush and deep ruby/purple in colour, ripe, sweet notes of plums, black currants and cherries jump from the glass of this sleeper of the vintage. An undeniably endearing style of wine, generously endowed, plump and easy to appreciate, its evolved complexity and fleshy fruit make for a delicious yet classic Graves to drink over the next decade or more. Bravo. Edited.
NM92. A blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped a 49hl/ha; the Château Ferran has a gorgeous bouquet of blackberry, dark plum and a touch of wild strawberry. The purity and definition is top-class. The palate is very smooth on the entry, the ripeness of the Merlot deftly contained, very harmonious and pure towards the blackberry, cedar and tobacco-tinged finish. This is not a long-term Pessac-Leognan, but it is beautifully crafted and offers much short- to medium-term pleasure. Edited.
