2020 Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac

Pontet-Canet: A 5th Growth next to Lafite (1st Growth, $1K) and Mouton (1st Growth, $800). Similar terroir, a fraction of the price—Bordeaux’s best-kept secret.

The name of this Châteaux comes from the first owner named Jean-François de Pontet, who was the royal governor of the Medoc region. This property is currently owned by the businessman Guy Tesseron; since the Tesseron family took possession, this Châteaux began to notably improve the quality of its wines and has managed to position itself as one of Bordeaux's favorites. Consumers even assure that this wine is comparable in quality to a 2nd  or 3rd Growth wine.

The Tesseron family has other Châteaux, including Lafon Rochet in the appellation of St. Estephe and Pym-Rae, an estate in Napa Valley, which previously belonged to comedian Robin Williams. 

With special care in the vineyard, biodynamic and sustainable agriculture, and the oenological direction of Michelle Rolland, this Châteaux is one to watch! Wine Spectator spoke about Chateau Pontet-Canet “It's a fifth-growth Pauillac that can perform like a first-growth, often offering pure, rich Cabernet fruit that's deeply concentrated.”

Pontet-Canet is located just 800 meters from 1^st Growth, Château Mouton Rothschild. The vineyard is composed of 200 acres placed in a blessed terroir known as the “plateau”, a gentle broad outcrop of Garonne gravel soil dating from the Günz era that sits on a bedrock of limestone.

2020 was a great year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 97-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

Tasting Notes:

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.