2005 Pontet Canet
By Chateau Pontet Canet
2005 Pontet Canet from Chateau Pontet Canet, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The storied 2005 Pontet Canet from Chateau Pontet Canet in Pauillac, Bordeaux, remains an archetype of balance and intensity in the region. The year was one greeted with rapturous acclaim, a crowning glory within a decade that glittered with vinous potential. This offering captures the imagination with an eloquent narrative written in the lexicon of the terroir.
An Opulent Year in Pauillac
The 2005 vintage across Bordeaux was characterised by near perfection in climate conditions—a tranquil summer blessed by uninterrupted sunshine followed by an ideal amount of autumn rain. Within this backdrop, Chateau Pontet Canet crafted a wine that stands as a testament to not only Mother Nature's benevolence but also to the sagacity of its vignerons.
Divining the Elixir
Tasting the 2005 Pontet Canet is like unfolding a meticulously drawn map of Pauillac's terroir on the palate. Here, the graveled soil speaks through dark fruit notes interlaced with cigar box and earthy truffle. Tannins, once formidable in their youth, have evolved into silken threads that bind rich flavours with poised acidity. The mid-palate offers a cornucopia of black currant, graphite and svelte oak nuances—an opulent concerto performed flawlessly by experienced hands.
Cellar maturation has kissed this wine with wisdom, gleaning edges of complexity that entice collectors and investors who understand the longevity inherent in such a distinguished vintage.
A Fine Wine Investment Par Excellence
The astute investor recognizes that the 2005 Pontet Canet stands as one of the unequivocal pinnacles in investment-grade wines from Bordeaux. Its seamless fusion of power and finesse echoes the excellence promised by its bounteous year, ensuring its place in esteemed cellars worldwide.
I implore you to acquaint yourself intimately with this Pauillac marvel; it is not merely an indulgence in fine taste but also a wise foray into vinous opulence that will continue to reward.
In contemplating the depth and breadth of the 2005 Pontet Canet from Chateau Pontet Canet, I am reminded that great wine does much more than merely satiate; it inspires, it endures, and it elevates our connoisseurship to new zeniths. It is a beacon for both the hedonist and the heedful investor alike.
Market price (USD)
$1,494.26
12x75cl
Highest score
97
POP score
72
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted at the Pontet-Canet vertical in London, the 2005 Château Pontet-Canet has long been one of the stars of the vintage and this might well be the best of over a dozen showings of this wine. However, do not expect ostentation on the nose. This is 2005 and like many wines of this vintage, even with considerable decanting, it remained broody and introspective on the nose, as if it is checking you out and seeing if you are worthy. Once you have been accepted, then it swings the doors open to reveal gorgeous scents of blackberry, briary and cassis fruit, perhaps a little more sous-bois than I have noticed compared to previous bottles. The palate is medium-bodied, but dense and structured—certainly a more masculine Pontet-Canet built for long-term ageing. Yet it retains marvelous freshness and vitality all the way through to the pencil-lead, quite saline finish. I suspect that the 2009 Pontet-Canet is more approachable than the 2005, so heeding Robert Parker's sage advice, afford this up to ten years in your cellar and then reap the rewards of patience. Tasted February 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 July 2016
Tasted single blind at Farr’s 2005 dinner in Hong Kong. This Pontet-Canet ’05 goes from strength to strength. Here it has a prodigious bouquet that to be honest, is a level above Lynch Bages, with startling clarity: crisp red berries, crushed stone, limestone and cassis. The palate is marked by svelte tannins and wonderful harmony and tension. Hints of graphite and brine interlace the finish that goes on and on. Top class. Tasted November 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2012
The work that Alfred Tesseron and his winemaking team have done at this estate since 1994 is remarkable. At this fabulous terroir just south of Mouton-Rothschild, Tesseron has made major investments, and instituted incredibly severe selections in both the vineyard and winery. The result is a succession of extraordinary wines. It is difficult to know whether the 2005 Pontet-Canet will ultimately eclipse the hedonism and density of the flamboyant 2003, but it is unquestionably a stunning effort. Inky/black-colored with a classic Pauillac perfume of licorice, black currant liqueur, graphite, cedar, and spice box, it is full-bodied, with magnificent concentration, formidable tannins, and an Arnold Schwartzenegger-like structure (when he was 25 years younger). This backward, formidably endowed 2005 will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #176 April 2008