Tasting notes

2009:  A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.  Immediately intense, lifted aromas of blackcurrant, cassis and liquid minerals.  On the palate the wine is intense yet very fine, with layers of complex fruit and a reserved, understated harmony and balance.  Very fine-yet-persistent tannins, seamless integration and great concentration, not to mention an incredible finish.  Transcends its classification, and shows truly first-growth terroir.  96-99 points, drink 2015-2040.

2007:  From yields of 28hl/ha and a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.  Beautiful, lifted aromatics of sweet

red fruits and minerals.  On the palate there are beautiful, soft tannins, juicy red fruit and a long, complex finish.  The wine is very soft and approachable, but with lovely depth and weight of fruit.  Pure and beautifully-balanced, this is an outstanding wine.  94-96 points, drink 2011-2025 (April 2008).  From bottle the wine is soft and charming, with gorgeous aromas of red berries and minerals.  These follow through on the soft and open palate, which is framed by fine, persistent tannins and lovely minerality.  Complex and lengthy finish, with no hint of underripeness, there is lovely concentration in this wine.  93 points, drink 2012-2020 (April 2010).

2006:  Dark fruit aromas of blueberry, minerals and ripe plums.  These flavours continue on the palate, where the wine is certainly firm and structured, yet extremely fine and elegant.  Pure and clean in style, the extremely fine, chalky tannin only appears at the finish.  Reserved, brooding, this is a delightful medium to long-term wine.  93-95 points, drink 2018-2030.  April 2008.

2005:  A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in 60% new oak.  From barrel the wine showed beautiful, fine and almost elegant aromas of freshly-crushed berries and plum, and really elegant tannin structure, wonderful precision and freshness on the palate.  Layers of flavours, outstanding intensity and yet beautifully-balanced already, this is clearly the most outstanding Pontet-Canet yet.  95-96 points, drink 2010-2040+ (May 2006).  From bottle (April 2008) the wine showed very complex aromas of minerals, spice, smoke, black fruits and graphite.  Extremely polished and precise on the palate, with layers of complexity.  Wonderfully fine flavours, perfectly-integrated tannins and soft acidity, the wine is already delicious, yet I have no doubt that this wine will improve and put on even more weight in the future.  Belies its 1855 ranking, instead showing it is a contemporary of its more illustrious neighbours, Mouton and Lafite.  96 points, drink 2012-2035.  Finally in February 2009 the wine had incredible, lifted aromatics of quite exotic blueberries, plum, spice and minerals.  On the palate the same flavours, of surprising density for a wine of such elegance and freshness.  Very complex and lengthy finish, it is actually beginning to close down a little, the very fine-yet-massive structure overshadowing the fruit at this stage.  Should re-emerge into a modern classic.  96 points, drink 2015-2040.

2004:  A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.  From barrel there are very youthful aromas of red berries and minerals.  Soft plum, spice and cedar flavours on the palate, with good length of finish, fine tannin structure, only moderate complexity but a lovely core of sweet fruit.  Should age superbly.  89-92 points (April 2005).  From bottle three times (April 2008, August 2008 and February 2009) it has shown consistently well, with attractive and complex aromas of plum, crunchy berries, minerals and leafiness.  Quite bold and powerful on the palate, and classically-structured, this is a medium to full-bodied wine that should age superbly over the medium-term.  Very good complexity and length of finish, and quite delicious, this is a lovely wine.  92 points, drink now-2019.

2003:  A delicious, if somewhat flamboyant style for this usually conservatively-styled Pauillac.  Ripe-yet-refined aromas of plum, spice, minerals and blackcurrants.  Great depth of flavour and complexity on the palate, with long, fine but persistent tannins, and an exotic character to the fruit on the palate - very ripe but not touching on sur-maturite.  Dense on the finish, it is a candidate for superb ageing I think (whereas some others may fall over in 10 years).  Impressive.  94 points, drink 2010-2030.  (November 2006).  Another bottle (May 2008) showed slightly more sur-maturite aromas of stewed plums, spice, mocha and cassis liqueur.  Delicious on the palate in an opulent way, but no heat or burnt character.  Very long, firm but fine tannins, and very complex on the finish.  Definately a departure from the traditional style, but in a good way.  93 points.

2002:  Pleasant if not compelling aromas of red berry, plum and tobacco.  Some minerals on the palate, with a leafy edge, and then nice, ripe red fruits.  Good finesse, medium-bodied, and good complexity on the finish.  Nice wine but lacking layers of interest.  89 points, drink now-2015.  August 2005.

2001:  Restrained aromas of minerals, graphite and plum.  On the palate the wine is quite reserved and slightly hard at the present, with the chalky, powerful tannins seemingly dominating the fruit somewhat.  Good complexity and intensity, it just lacks a little flesh which should appear with a little time.  Just arrived, so may not be showing its best.  89 points.  Drink 2009-2021 (July 2004).

2000:  Wow, what a monolithic wine.  Dense and powerful aromas with lots of spice, cassis, tobacco and plum.  These follow through on to the palate, where the ripe, dense fruit marries harmoniously with the very fine but very powerful structure.  Very good complexity already, the wine is quite intense but has a degree of freshness to it.  Nevertheless needs many years of cellaring to show its best.  Should be very long-lived.  93 points, drink 2010-2035.  November 2003.

1998:  An easy-drinking style, showing red currant and plum aromas.  On the palate the wine has plenty of fine tannin, good fruit and moderate complexity.  Lengthy finish.  88 points. (December 2001).

1997:  A little thin on the nose, with coaxing showing some cherry and herbaceous characters.  Surprisingly tough on the palate, with the tannins not integrated yet and dominating the gentle, pretty fruit and touch of minerals.  Moderate complexity, good length, not sure where this is going.  85 points (December 2001).

1996: Very powerful aromas of blueberry, mineral, spice and cassis.  On the palate the fruit is dense, and framed by powerful, fine but very persistent tannins.  Almost monolithic in structure.  Great density on the finish, and very complex already.  Not a wine for the faint-hearted!  94 points, drink 2004-2026.  (December 2001).

1995:  Attractive aromas of minerals, plum and cassis.  On the palate the wine is quite firm and powerful, but also approachable, with delicious ripe fruit marrying well to the tannins and acidity.  Complex and lengthy finish, very attractive style.  92 points, drink now-2025.  (December 2001).

1994:  I don’t know why, but I love Pontet-Canet and Mouton from this vintage!  Attractive aromas of spice, mocha and cassis, which follow through on to the palate.  Lovely blackcurrant.  There are fine tannins that do not overpower the fruit, very good complexity and a long, fine finish.  an excellent wine for the vintage.  92 points, drink now-2014.  (December 2001).

1982:  Quite earthy, spicy aromas, with plum and cassis.  Showing full maturity on the palate, with slightly blocky, firm tannins gradually overpowering the fruit.  Good complexity and lengthy finish, it just lacks a little more fruit to balance the structure on the finish.  88 points, drink now.  (December 2001).

1978:  A fairly dry, mature nose of musk, leather and spice.  On the palate the wine is holding on, but its best drinking is behind it.  Fully-mature, with somewhat chunky tannins, moderate complexity and good length.  85 points, drink now.  (December 2001).

1975:  (December 2001).

1970:  (December 2001).

1959:  A bottle shipped directly from the Château’s cellars several months prior, recorked in 1986.  Frankly slightly disappointing aromas, although still fresh, of faint plum and tobacco.  On the palate the wine is certainly fully-mature, but showing its excellent providence, still has a degree of freshness and fruitiness.  Attractive and mature, but hardly breathtaking.  89 points, drink now.  (December 2001).

1953:  (December 2001).  Fading somewhat, with very developed, tertiary aromas of smoke, leather, aldehydes and dried fruit.  The palate shows excessive acidity, and it’s hard to evaluate the quite how the various components have combined.  75 points.  December 2001.

1949:  (December 2001).  The highlight of the night.  Despite being in somewhat dubious condition (ullaged to high-shoulder) the wine simply shone.  Wonderful, mature aromas of tobacco, leather, even some red fruits.  Fine, resolved tannins, good ripeness and good length of flavour, this is a complex and frankly delicious wine that showed unexpectedly well.  93 points, drink now.  (December 2001).

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