2008 Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
126804 Views
2008
Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac)
Rich, full-bodied, deep, intense and loaded to the brim with crème de cassis, tobacco, smoke, wet forest floor and cherry pipe tobacco elements, the wine is mouth-filling, tannic, long, deep and complex. Everything about this is just great. But patience is going to be needed, as this will probably not hit its peak for at least another 5-8 years. 10,390 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2018Still holding much of what this has to offer in reserve, the wine is tight at the moment. With air and effort, the concentrated waves of ripe, fresh, juicy, blackberry, tobacco and earth make their way to the surface. This is quite nice, with ripe, soft tannins, but it is still primary. Another 7-10 years will add a lot to the wine, and it could deserve a higher score. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 11,637 Views Tasted Nov 14, 2017This is not the best time to be popping a cork on this future beauty. It's tight and hard to a lot of pleasure from at the moment. Yet, with that in mind, it's easy to see the high quality of ripe fruit, soft tannins, concentration and intensity. I'd give this at least 6 to 10 years from today before popping a cork. 12,983 Views Tasted Nov 21, 2015Young, still primary, but delicious, the tannins are polished, the fruit is concentrated, the wine is complex, deep and fresh. This is probably still quite well priced and is worth taking a look at. 14,583 Views Tasted Oct 5, 2014If this is a precursor to how the 2012 Pontet Canet is going to develop, perhaps 2012 is a vintage worth looking at, as this big, concentrated, full bodied, cassis, blackberry, earth, truffle, smoke and tobacco filled wine is fresh, polished, balanced, rich, long and still quite young. 15,399 Views Tasted May 19, 2013Still deep in color, with an explosion of black and blue fruit, cassis, cedar, coffee, stone, earth, smoke and cigar box aromatics. Powerful, rich, tannic and structured to age, from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot, this luscious and lusty Pauillac demands at least another decade in the cellar. 20,165 Views Tasted May 7, 20122008 Pontet Canet is another winner from Alfred Tesseron, who has been making better wine every year since the 1994 vintage. Black fruit paired with spice, licorice, earth and toasty oak introduce your senses to the wine. This powerful, full bodied, cassis and blackberry jam filled wine is fresh, fat and concentrated, ending in a wave in chocolate covered, dark berries. 95 Pts 20,617 Views Tasted Jul 20, 201008 Château Pontet Canet is deep, dark ruby. The nose expresses sweet black fruit, cassis, and fresh earthy notes. “Wow” is the first descriptor I used to describe what the wine feels like on your palate. This wine is incredibly concentrated with dense, ripe, rich, almost flamboyant fruit. The texture is fresh, fat, rich, juicy and opulent. Everything is in balance in this packed and stacked wine which finishes with intense purity. 94-97 Pts 21,030 Views Tasted Aug 31, 2009 |
When to Drink Chateau Pontet Canet, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Pontet Canet is not at its best in its youth, even with several hours of decanting. This is due to the high levels of tannins and intense concentration in the wine. The wine is usually better at 10-12-15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character.
In the best years, the wine will be at its best between 15 and 45 years of age after the vintage. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-4 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Serving Chateau Pontet Canet, with Wine and Food Pairings
Chateau Pontet Canet is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Pontet Canet is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Pontet Canet is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, pasta and a myriad of hard and soft cheeses.
Jean Michel Comme also owns his own biodynamically farmed vineyard, Champ des Treilles in the Sainte Foy appellation.