Jancis Robinson
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%