2011 - Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

A lighter-framed vintage than the 2010, and you see it even in the colour of the wine, that is still young but has a trace of rose-pink around the edging. Love the aromatics of smoke, chamomile, and fragrant violet. Touches of russet, autumn-tinged leaf alongside earthy red cherry and raspberry. This is a good choice for drinking now, but it will age because there are plenty of finely placed and integrated tannins. I gave this 95 points last time I tasted this in February 2021, and it is easily one of my favourite 2011s but there is austerity here. Harvest September 15 to 29, with a little more Merlot in the blend than is usual after a dry but not overly hot summer followed by a tricky harvest. 90% of the crop went into this wine, far higher than the first wine of many classifieds in the vintage.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2011 Pontet-Canet is deep garnet colored. It comes roaring out with bold notes of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and dried mulberries, plus suggestions of Indian spices, menthol, and tobacco. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegantly styled, with bags of freshness and loads of mineral sparks, supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and earthy.

Deep garnet in color, the 2011 Pontet-Canet comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of redcurrant jelly, warm cassis and blackberry pie plus touches of dried mint, mocha, smoked meats and yeast extract with a waft of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of energy with lively red and black fruits and compelling mineral accents, finishing long with a provocative lift.

The 2011 Pontet Canet has a well-defined bouquet with brambly red fruit, tar and tobacco, classic in style, maybe just missing a little flair? The palate is sweet and rounded in texture, quite extractive with mulberry and gamey notes, fairly bretty towards the almost Rhône-like finish. This is difficult to fathom out, not an unenjoyable wine for sure, yet it is missing typicité. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.

The year before they went biodynamic. Tasted blind. Mid garnet. Light nose and then notably sweet, fairly soft palate. Simple rather than compelling but not faulty. Rather an austere finish. (JR)