2002 Pontet Canet
By Chateau Pontet Canet
2002 Pontet Canet from Chateau Pontet Canet, Pauillac, Bordeaux
In the pensive climes of 2002, one would be forgiven for approaching the vintage with a degree of trepidation; however, the effort from Chateau Pontet Canet reveals a masterful defiance of the year's challenges. The 2002 Pontet Canet is testimony to the tenacity of well-situated Pauillac terroir coupled with assiduous winemaking.
Eloquence in Exuberance: The Investing Perspective
This particular year did not bask in the warmth and benevolence of Mother Nature as profusely as its preceding or succeeding vintages. And yet, there's an intricate dance between the inclemency of the weather and the resultant fruit that was finessed into a nuanced ensemble by Chateau Pontet Canet. It undeniably flags the attention of fine wine investors looking for unique expressions within their portfolios.
Built on Character: The 2002 Vintage Unveiled
An unexpected delight, the 2002 Pontet Canet carries notes of blackcurrant and tobacco, a nod to its classic Pauillac backbone; what is particularly striking, though, is its vital core of minerality interlacing with subtle hints of cedar and leather. With tannins that have mellowed beautifully over time yet still grip with gentle assertion, this vintage has evolved admirably in bottle. The complexities developed through careful cellar ageing place tonight's pour at a compelling juncture for savouring or indeed a future nestling into a bidder's inventory.
One finds that the 2002 vintage is a rewarding study in resilience, mirroring the strength and depth found in sophisticated collections. Its current state is harmoniously balanced - enigmatic enough to inspire continued investment interest while offering immediate gratification to the curious connoisseur.
In summation, whist not heralded upon release with trumpet's blare, time has unfurled the tapestry of the 2002 Pontet Canet to reveal a discretionary choice for both drinking now and wine investment forays. It sits in the cellars of those astute enough to look beyond commonly held vintage appraisals—waiting, perhaps, to be rediscovered as an emblem of Pauillac's resilient spirit.
Market price (USD)
$1,030.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
76.36
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s Pontet-Canet dinner at The Ledbury. Compared to more recent vintages, the 2002 certainly has a lighter, perhaps more straightforward nose with blackberry, bay leaf and just a hint of liquorice. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, well knit but not quite as deep as the 2003 or 2004. Powdery in texture towards the finish with that tincture of leafiness coming through so typical of the vintage. Tasted February 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Nov 2011
This wine has seemingly gone to sleep and is in a dormant, ungracious stage, exhibiting notes of green tea leaves intermixed with red and black currants in its dusty nose. A medium-bodied wine with moderately high tannin and a certain austerity, it seems to be a much less impressive effort than I thought from barrel or is it just impossibly closed? There is still substantial size and tannic clout to the wine, but the fruit seems to have gone into hiding. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020+. As most well-informed insiders in Bordeaux know, proprietor Alfred Tesseron has been doing everything right since 1994 in order to fully develop the enormous potential of this vineyard adjacent to Mouton-Rothschild. Some serious work is done in the vineyard including de-budding, de-leafing, and crop-thinning. The harvest usually takes place in several attempts trying to maximize ripeness and there are two separate sorting tables. Yields have dropped dramatically, and of course there is a severe selection.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 April 2005