2023 Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac

One of the wines of the vintage. Slow and steady unrolling of spice, capsicum, fresh acidities, crushed oyster shell and peony, cassis, squid ink and blueberry. Elegant and finessed, capturing the heart of Cabernet Sauvignon in a way that makes me think of Zuccardi and Malbec. Bright unrolling through the palate, great precision and quality with a ton of freshly cut herbs, black tea and fennel, giving life and focus. This was blended before ageing for the first time for at least a decade. Vinified in egg-shaped wooden vats and sunken qvevri-style clay vats. 50% new oak for ageing, with 35% amphora and 15% one year old barrels. New lighter bottle as of the 2022 around 490g, down from 815g in the past, 30 tonnes of CO2 saved just in terms of production. ~99 Jane Anson, Insider Bordeaux

The 2023 Pontet-Canet is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of juicy blueberries, black cherries, and blackcurrant jelly spill from the glass, giving way to nuances of violets, black truffle, fertile loam, and mossy tree bark with a hint of cardamom. The medium-bodied palate is so, so silky, elegant, and fine, with perfumed black and blue fruit layers and beautiful tension, finishing long with lots of shimmery mineral and floral sparkles. The blend is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, aged in 50% new oak, 35% amphorae, and 15% used barrels. With an alcohol this year of just 13.8%, this is a beautifully poised, tightly packed powerhouse that promises to keep the firework displays bedazzling collectors for many years to come. (LPB) ~97-98 The Wine Independent

A crunchy and vivid Pontet Canet with aromas of blueberries, blackberries, roses, violets and some sandalwood and graphite. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are long and caressing. Creamy texture, with crushed stones and light cement. Lots of energy at the end. Very approachable and long. Turns chewy and silky, with a bright and vivid finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. ~98 James Suckling

The 2023 Pontet-Canet envelops the palate with silky tannins as hints of vibrant red-toned fruit, crushed flowers, spice and dried herbs fill out the layers. The 2023 is an exceptionally finessed Pontet-Canet. This is the first vintage in which the Grand Vin was blended early—in December following the harvest—as opposed to just before bottling, which had been the norm. That's one of many changes that resulted in a striking wine endowed with superb finesse. (AG) ~98 Vinous Media

Some sweet strawberry and floral notes. Lovely purity from the get go, smooth, sappy, succulent and all in line. Great structure and balance here, grippy but fine tannins. Feels really cool and classic, the blue fruit, soft liquorice not spicy at all, wood super well integrated. Leans into the vintage with a classical frame, straight, well defined, pure and finessed. Lacking a touch in the fleshy appeal of some but you can't fault the precision on show. Juicy acidity too adds lift from start to finish. A brilliant, hands off, very assured Pontet. Also very approachable. A modern drinkable wine from Bordeaux. Really lovely. (GH) ~97 Decanter

Meeting the expectations set at the en primeur tastings, the 2023 Pontet-Canet wafts from the glass with a vibrant, perfumed bouquet of cassis, mulberries, rose petals, pencil shavings and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, seamless and pure, it is layered and precise, framed by filigreed tannins and delivering a powerful yet controlled profile that extends into a long, crystalline, licorice-inflected finish. A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, it signals a new aesthetic era for the estate, marked by greater purity, brightness and precision. (YC) ~97 Wine Advocate