2006 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

“Tight and unyielding at the moment, but with great pedigree, great texture and definition, this has lots of life to come. Poised and impactful, with juicy and mouthwatering fruit. Punches far above the weight of the vintage, one of those get-a-straw-in-the-glass wines: among the best of the tasting. Here tension rises, and your mouth waters on the finish. This is delicate but punchy, with perfect balance. (JA)” (06/2016)

“If there was a prize in this tasting for heaviest bottle, or the broadest shoulders, Pontet-Canet would win it. It would also win any prize based on quality, as this is surely the best wine in this small Bordeaux line-up. It still has a dark colour at its core in the glass, a dark cherry red, with good concentration out to a thin garnet rim. This is followed by a perfumed and quite intriguing nose, with scents of rose and iris, swirled with sweet cassis, even notes of black cherry, the sort of profile you might expect in a better vintage than this. It feels fresh and floral, and nuanced by black pepper. The palate has a lightly sinewy texture at the start, is clearly no more than medium-bodied, gentle but grained with slightly coarse and as yet unresolved structure. Savoury, drily built, even at fifteen years this is still giving more grip than pleasure. It has length, but that awkward, structured grip dominates. This is still on the way up, so hold off for now.” (12/2021)

“The 2006 is a wine to stockpile, especially for those in their thirties and forties as it needs another decade to reach maturity, after which it should keep for 30+ years. This vineyard, just south of Mouton Rothschild, has produced an opaque bluish/purple-colored 2006 with an extraordinarily pure nose of graphite, charcoal, sweet creme de cassis, and a hint of scorched earth. Incredible concentration, stunning richness, and a 60-second finish result in a wine that transcends the vintage as well as this estate’s 1855 classification. This enormously endowed, modern day classic is a legend in the making. (NM)” (05/2016)

“Inky cassis, black raspberry, graphite and pungent minerality on the very ripe nose. Dense, rich and silky, with a brooding inky minerality and an almost liqueur-like dark fruit sweetness leavened by a savory peppery element. This very ripe, deep and concentrated wine boasts wonderful lushness without any undue weight thanks to its sheer energy. Like its neighbor Mouton-Rothschild, Pontet-Canet's 2006 conveys a powerful impression of soil character. Finishes with serious dusty tannins and superb lingering sweetness. Should be long-lived. (ST)” (05/2009)

“This red is now soft and fruity with plum, berry and mineral character. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins and a gorgeous finish.” (07/2013)

“Blackberry, currant and plum tart aromas lead to a full body, with a solid core of fruit, sweet fruit and silky tannins. Generous and round, with lovely richness for the vintage. (JS)” (03/2009)

“At this early stage in its development, this wine shows more structure than richness. The tannins are fully developed, dark and dense. The complexity is there, but the fruit and the elegance are still to come—and that suggests good aging potential. (RV)” (03/2009)