Castle Pontet-Canet - Pauillac 2011

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Vivid ruby.  Very ripe scents of dark plum, graphite and leather and a strong note of underbrush on the initially reduced nose.  Fleshy and smooth on entry, showing hefty, slightly warm, ripe dark fruit and licorice flavors, but turns austere on the long back end, finishing with tight tannins and a metallic edge.  Really not much fun presently, and very different from what I remember at the Primeurs:  I imagine the sample I tried most recently was in the process of shutting down.  I wouldn't pull the cork on this for at least another four or five years. (89(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

Proprietor Alfred Tesseron-s 2011 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 2011 will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for 15-20 years. Bravo!

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014

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.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2014

This cuts a broad swath, with prominent notes of espresso and ganache leading to the core of crushed plum and blackberry confiture. Lush, with the ganache edge joining a loamy hint to underscore the finish. Consistent with the barrel tasting, this shows more breadth than cut in the end. Best from 2016 through 2026.

La Revue du Vin de France

17,5-18 / 20

the5/31/2012

Le cru est au sommet du millésime, l'un des plus grands vins élaborés. Energique et doté d'une matière fabuleuse, il propose une bouche d'un équilibre souverain, avec un éclat magique et un toucher de taffetas. Fruit, tanins, acidité se fondent avec une harmonie somptueuse. Un nous chef d'oeuvre.

Le Point

17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Nez fruits rouges, floral, assez discret, bouche douce, tendre, petits tanins friands, vif, minéral, long, très pur, fin, délicat et séveux. O= 2017 G= 15 ans

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91-93 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012

(60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 32 hectoliters per hectare): Deep, opaque ruby. Rich aromas of blackberry, black cherry and minerals are lifted by a perfumed minty note. Multilayered and vibrant, with compelling sweetness of black fruit cocktail, spicy vanilla and mineral flavors. Finishes with very smooth tannins, a persistent violet note and an impression of weightlessness. I love this wine's purity, but I don't know if my sample had any press wine in it.

TAST

18-18,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Impressionnante noblesse de texture, d'une suavité dans les sensations tactiles cette année inégalée à Pauillac, grands arômes de cèdre, tanin très ferme et présent, grand avenir. Encore un des meilleurs vins de tout le Médoc et un sujet de réflexion pour ses pairs.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Intensives Fruchtbouquet. Hier finder man die Pauillac-Frucht, die man bei Lafite und Latour vergebens suchte! Viel Alpenheidelbeeren und verspielte Cassisnuancen, dezenten Vieille-Prune-Touch dahinter zeigend, zerlassene dunkle Pralinen. Saftiger, eleganter Gaumen, wohltuende, aber doch präsente Tannine, royaler Körper mit traumhafter Länge. Genau so müssen die besten Weine dieses nicht einfachen Jahrgangs sein. Kann noch einen Punkt zulegen. Wer diesen Wein haben will, sollte angesichts der rasant wachsenden Fan-Gemeinde besser sofort zuschlagen. 2021-2054

Decanter.com

18 / 20

the4/30/2012

Wild violets and black fruit nose, both exuberant and classic. It is a wonderfully elegant Pauillac with superb vineyard expression. Drink 2016-2035. (18 points)

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

Once again proprietor Alfred Tesseron has produced a wine of first-growth potential. One of the superstars of the vintage, Pontet-Canet’s 2011 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.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2011 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 2011. 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

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

Produced from an assemblage of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby in color with scents of coffee, licorice, truffle, smoke and blackberry. The wine is fresh, pure, clean and filled with spicy cassis. Compared to recent vintages, this is a round, approachable, refined style of Pontet Canet finishing with silky cassis and spice. 93-95 Pts

Asian Palate

92-93 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

"2011 Pontet Canet much less dense than previous vintages with subtle layers of flavours and gentle, delicate expression of fruit. Already approachable, very soft and supple on the palate. The beauty of this vintage for Pontet Canet is the velvety, refined texture of its tannins; very well handled in this challenging vintage. Gorgeous perfume with a welcomed delicacy in this wine. This is an earlier drinking vintage compared to 2009 and 2010 but no less pleasurable. "

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/17/2012

Drink 2018-2031
Three horses at work in the vineyards. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 35% Merlot. 10% (young vines) goes into Les Hauts de Pontet. 90% is the grand vin. Harvested 15-29 September. Soft inky crimson. Unusual woody sort of nose. Gentle, rounded, complex already – there's a savoury freshness without specific fruit flavours that you can pick out, though the wine is rounded out by its fruit. As it opens, there's a bramble fruit character. Smoky bacon, not unlike northern Rhône Syrah (!), quite ripe, really does have a sort of Rhône note. A lot of spice, black pepper, particularly on the palate, a tension and energy from the freshness but not juicy fruit. Refined tannins that are also spiced and deep but smoothed. Very long. Not clear cut, not precise but lots of pleasure. A sort of homely character. (JH) 13%

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012

A big, broad-shouldered style, with lots of bittersweet cocoa and coffee up front, followed by thick-textured blackberry and black currant fruit. Shows a bit more brute force than purity right now, though hard to deny the concentration and depth. Could move up if it stretches out and gains some finesse.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

96-98 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/4/2012

The fruit is very pure with a great depth of flavor. This wine has weight, and intense flavors of dark plum and sweet fruit. Impressive. —R.V.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

A wine with very clear fruit definition and minerals with hints of flowers. Full body with fine tannins and a a fresh finish. Mineral and dried flowers. Long and crisp. Lovely quality of tannins here. Racy. Lover to see a little more fruit concentration in mid-palate.