Castle Pontet-Canet - Pauillac 2012

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

This impeccably run, biodynamically farmed estate of Alfred Tesseron goes from strength to strength. The 2012 triumphs once again with its notes of dark plum, blackcurrant, licorice and almost a hint of truffle, its full-bodied, supple tannins, and beautiful, expensive mouthfeel. Complex and deep, this dense ruby/purple-colored wine may not be at the level of the 2009 or 2010, but it is a successful wine in this vintage, and a significant wine in 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035.

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

A wine that makes you want to drink it already. It's stylish with berries, currants, cedar and stone aromas and flavors. Full body, with very integrated tannins and a long, long finish. A small percentage of the wine is now aged in cement vats instead of oak barrels. This touches all the senses. A beauty. Made from biodynamic grapes.

timatkin.com

93 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2013

Winemaker Jean-Michel Cosme concedes that the vicissitudes of the vintage made it harder to use organic and biodynamic practices, but seems happy with the result. This is a step down from recent stellar vintages, but it’s still a dense, if oaky red, with a mixture of leafy, minty and slightly over-ripe flavours. The oak needs to integrate here, but the firm tannins should soften in barrel and bottle. Drink: 2022-30

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

(65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot): Deep purple-ruby. Perfumed nose of violet and ripe blackberry jam. Smooth, rich and almost sweet on entry, then increasingly austere, with the sweet cassis and delicate herbal flavors overshadowed by rising, raw tannins. I detected a slightly green quality on the long finish. Though this wine lacks the amazingly sweet flesh of the '09 and '10 wines, and the classic elegance of the '08, I like its precision. Alfred Tesseron told me the estate picked late, on October 4, to offer the grapes a greater chance of reaching suitable ripeness, but they harvested quickly, using an extra sorting table.

Le Point

17,5-18 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits noirs, épices, bouche fine, tendre, tanins vifs, croquants, assez serrés, juteux, frais, très élégant, serré en finale, tendu. O= 2017 G= 15 ans.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2013

What is a primeur report without one of Pauillac’s most dynamic estate? I made the trip through the rain to taste their 2012. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 30% Merlot, the latter was cropped from 4th October and the Cabernet Sauvignon from 11th October, finishing six days later. The 50% of the crop once aged in new oak and one-year old barrels are now matured in concrete vats whilst 35% of the crop is aged in clay amphora quarried from their own vineyard. There is certainly great purity and terroir expression on the nose: blackberry, briary and background scents of fresh raspberry and cold stone. The definition is very impressive. The palate is interesting – quite different from the previous vintages. I love the tannins here – very fine but lending the Pontet-Canet great backbone It is utterly harmonious but I feel more understated, perhaps more controlled than recent vintages. The finish is much more introspective – a Pauillac politely informing you to go away and wait before bottling before making any judgement! This is a divine Pontet Canet - very succinct. Tasted April 2013.

matthewjukes.com

19 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Total and utter harmony, with exceptionally well-knit fruit, layers of flavour and an incredible finish.

Wine Advocate

91-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

A softer, less powerful and less prodigiously endowed Pontet Canet, the 2012 exhibits notes of creme de cassis and new barrique vanillin followed by a medium-bodied, elegant wine with sweeter tannin (and less of it) than is found in the great vintages that immediately precede it. The 2012 is certainly outstanding and, in fact, many readers may prefer it to the blockbuster, out-of-this-world, over-sized 2010, 2009 and 2008. Medium-bodied, pure and expressive, this classic Pauillac should only require 5-6 years of cellaring. It should drink well for two decades thereafter.

No one will confuse the 2012 Pontet Canet with the 2008, 2009 or 2010, but proprietor Alfred Tesseron has turned in another high level performance in this more challenging vintage (especially true in the Medoc).
Drink: 2018 - 2038

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

Produced from an assemblage of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this is one of the darkest wines of the vintage. The nose offers ripe dark berries, licorice, clay, minerality and fresh dark berries. Polished tannins, plush textures and layers of sweet, ripe berries fill your mouth. The suave, fresh wine ends with an expansive, rich finish in the mouth. Very successful for the vintage. This is the first year where Pontet Canet began using a percentage of amphore for the vinification. Alfred Tesseron is clearly on a roll. 94-96 Pts

My Bettane + Desseauve

17-17,5 / 20

the4/26/2013

Un peu de fragilité au nez mais les échantillons les plus frais sont admirablement veloutés dans leur texture, avec une saveur magnifique de raisin mûr, et un tannin satiné lié aux superbes merlots du millésime. Un charmeur dans l’appellation comme souvent.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,8 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/25/2013

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fruité, frais, mûr et un peu discret. Bouche juteuse à l’attaque, caressante au milieu, parfumée se développant fondante avec du goût sur une bonne longueur savoureuse et finement tramée. C’est long et bon !

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/24/2013

Drink 2018-2030
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Picked 4-17 October. Blackish purple. Much gentler than most. Easy and round and sating smooth and gouleyant with sufficient freshness – just. Very plush and round and easy. Lots of freshness. Highly distinctive. Rather dry and sudden on the end but really lovely on the way there. Gorgeous start and middle. I'm worried only by the finish. All texture and first two thirds of the experience.

Decanter.com

18 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Dense colour, superb nose of blackberry and black cherry fruit, really lovely silky texture, with all the power and elegance of a great Pauillac. 18/20pts ( 93/100pts)
Drink: 2017 - 2035

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2013

A wine that makes you want to drink it already. It’s stylish with berries, currants, cedar and stone aromas and flavors. Full body, with very integrated tannins and a long, long finish. A small percentage of the wine is now aged in cement vats instead of oak barrels. This touches all the senses. A beauty. Made from biodynamic grapes.