2016 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

The 2016 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes from the glass with bombastic creme de cassis, stewed plums, and blueberry preserves notes, giving way to subtle notions of licorice, lilacs, and damp soil plus a waft of truffles. Full-bodied, it is super concentrated with a lovely line of freshness and ripe, firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and with amazing purity. (LPB)

For me, this is right up there with the 2009 and 2010 as one of the finest releases of the modern era at Pontet-Canet. It has that undeniable character the estate does so well, somehow deeply Pauillac and luxurious at the same time, never fussy and always delicious. What stands out in 2016 is the added level of precision and refinement it brings to the richness and sheer appeal that made the 2009 and 2010 so famously adored. That’s no easy feat, and it gives this wine a sense of completeness that puts it among the very best Pontet-Canets of the past two decades. The nose is deep and dark, with black cherry, graphite, plum, and tar, immediately speaking to both the power of the vintage and the character of the appellation. The palate, however, is fresh, focused, and lively, with blackberry, cassis, hints of baking chocolate, and a fine, polished texture that keeps the wine from ever feeling heavy. There’s impressive concentration here, but also real lift and energy, with beautifully integrated tannins and a long, persistent finish that just carries on and on. This is a blockbuster, no question, but one with tremendous poise, balance, and detail. What I love most is how naturally all of those elements come together. It has the scale and depth you expect from a great Pontet-Canet, but also a sense of control and harmony that makes it compelling even at this relatively young stage. There’s plenty of structure for the long haul, but the fruit and texture are already expressive enough to make it enormously enjoyable today with some air. This is one of my favorite Pontet-Canet releases in a long time and still represents remarkable collectible value among the Left Bank’s finest wines from this unforgettable vintage. It has the pedigree to age for decades, but just as importantly, it already has that unmistakable Pontet-Canet quality that makes you want to keep coming back to the glass.