Verkostungsnotizen
Vinous NR
The 2020 Pontet-Canet has a concentrated bouquet that leans more toward red than black fruit-a little savory in style. A second bottle is more exotic than the first. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins. It's quite peppery for a Pauillac, with lovely ripe blackberry and mulberry notes emerging toward the persistent finish. In a strange showing, the second bottle is much drier and austere. I can't make heads or tails between the two bottles and consequently, I will not attribute a score. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Robert Parker 97
The 2020 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, aging in 50% new French oak barriques, 35% concrete amphorae and 15% in one-year-old barrels. Harvest began on the 14th September for the Merlot, and the final lot of Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested on 30th September. Opaque purple-black in color, it needs significant aeration and swirling to coax out evocative notes of black cherry preserves, raspberry pie, blackcurrant pastilles and damp soil, before launching into gorgeous floral and spice notions of red roses, cinnamon stick, star anise and cardamom, with a waft of crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate reveals a lot of depth and polish, delivering mouth-coating red and black fruits with loads of fragrant earth and floral sparks, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral tinged. This is a singular, fascinating expression of the vintage and highly recommended!
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2056
