2024 Pontet Canet
Buying options
Tasting Notes
The team at Ch. Pontet-Canet held their nerve in 2024, holding out for perfectly ripe fruit, only starting to bring Merlot in from 26th September, finishing the last parcels of Cabernet on 11th October. The result is impressive – ripe and dark, notes of cocoa and cloves sit alongside blackcurrant fruit on the precise nose. The palate is concentrated and balanced, combining black berry fruit with fresh acidity and chalky tannins that coat the mouth, yet don’t obscure the fruit. It’s medium-bodied, with depth and density – especially for the vintage – and a long, bright, mouth-watering finish. It is one of the real highlights of Pauillac this year. 13.1% alcohol. Aged in 50% new oak, 35% concrete amphorae and 15% one-year-old oak. Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
Peter Moser, Falstaff
More reviews and scores
The 2024 Château Pontet-Canet is deep purple-hued and delivers beautiful aromas of black and blue fruits, violets, graphite, sweet tobacco, and damp earth. Based on 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, with the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it was harvested between September 26 and October 11 and is aging 14 to 16 months in 50% new barrels, 35% amphora, and 15% once-used wood. Medium-bodied and seamless on the palate, it has pure, polished tannins, integrated acidity, and outstanding length. The alcohol is 13.1% with a pH of 3.8.
Deep garnet-purple colored. Strolls confidently out of the glass with notes of ripe, juicy plums, wild blueberries, and red currants, leading to suggestions of lilac, cardamom, fertile loam, and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and fresh with wonderfully plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
Vibrant ruby in colour with violet edging, this is beautifully measured, with a careful release of black fruits. Puts the focus on the floral side of Cabernet Sauvignon, with rose petals, chamomile, fragrant tomato leaf and lilac. There is austerity on the opening, with tight architecture but as it opens juice begins to flow through the pumice and slate-textured tannins, and this delivers a finessed, slim-style of Pauillac, with plenty of ageing potential and quiet confidence. One of the successes of the vintage. Harvest September 26 through to October 11. 3.8ph, 50% new oak, 35% concrete amphoras. Tasted twice.
About the producer
Ch. Pontet-Canet is one of Pauillac’s top estates, and one of its largest at 81 hectares. Although classified as a Fifth Growth, these days it consistently competes with the First Growths