2008 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (375ml)

“A candidate for the wine of the vintage, Pontet Canet’s 2008 boasts an opaque purple color as well as copious aromas of sweet blueberries, blackberries and black currant fruit intertwined with lead pencil shavings, subtle barbecue smoke and a hint of forest floor. Full-bodied, with fabulous richness, texture and tremendous freshness, this first-growth-like effort is more developed than the uber-powerful 2010. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following three decades. Bravo! (RP)q” (05/2011)

“Smooth, with dense tannins hidden behind the ripe, pure fruit, this important wine shows class and an impeccable balance of fruit and tannin. Rich as well as structured, this is a beautiful wine. *Cellar Selection* (RV)” (04/2011)

“The minerality and floral character to this is really impressive with lots of bark, currant and dried rose character. Full body, chewy yet polished tannins and a mouthwatering finish. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.” (06/2016)

“Deep ruby-red. Knockout nose combines black cherry, lavender, potpourri spices and graphite minerality; high-toned and slightly liqueur-like. Then dense, seamless and vibrant in the mouth, with firm acidity giving outstanding energy to the dark fruit, floral and mineral flavors. Really spreads out on the back end and stays a while. Brilliantly delineated, complex wine with superb cut and penetration. (ST)” (08/2011)

“The 2008 Pontet-Canet has a very perfumed, outgoing bouquet with raspberry coulis, blackberry, briary and graphite aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, classic in style with a firm, grippy finish that suggest it will need more ageing. I detected just a slight herbaceous note on the aftertaste but I suspect that will disappear with time. (NM)” (02/2018)

“Quite dense, but pure and fresh, with the core of fig, damson plum and mulled cherry fruit already well-defined, and the back end of rounded loam and roasted cedar grip fully integrated. The finish is long and powerful. Best from 2013 through 2020. (JM)” (04/2011)