Château Pontet-Canet, 2022
Château Pontet-Canet, 2022
- 75cl
- 14%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
- Organic
- Biodynamic
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Optimal drinking window: 2030 - 2070
Est. delivery in autumn, 2026
Château Pontet-Canet stands as Pauillac's biodynamic pioneer, transforming from reliable Left Bank estate into one of Bordeaux's most compelling properties. The 2022 captures this evolution perfectly: a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot that speaks with both power and grace from their gravelly Pauillac soils.
We find this vintage shows the estate's signature combination of dark fruit intensity and mineral backbone, enhanced by the biodynamic farming that has defined their approach since 2004.
What the critics say:
"A sensational Pauillac as well as the finest wine from this château since the 2009 (although the 2010 might have something to say about that), the 2022 Château Pontet-Canet sports a deep purple hue as well as a heavenly perfume of crème de cassis, smoke, incense, leafy tobacco, and chocolate. This beauty has sensational purity, a deep, layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, flawless balance, and incredible precision and detail in its aromas and flavors. Despite its opulence and power, it has a solid underlying structure, and its tannins are sweet and polished; it has remarkable depth and concentration, and it just does everything right. I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up slightly over the coming 3-5 years, although I don't expect it to truly shut down. It should have 40, 50, if not 60 years of overall longevity. The 2022 is based on 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 50% new barrels, 35% in amphora, and the rest in once-used oak."
"The concentration of dried herbs such as thyme, sage and mint with blackcurrants and Spanish cedar is mesmerizing. Full-bodied with a dense and intense palate, this has creamy, crunchy tannins and a long and flavorful finish that goes on for minutes. Punchy and rich with lots of power. The real identity of Pontet-Canet comes through despite the hot and dry growing year. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2029."
"The 2022 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, aging 50% in new oak barrels, 35% in amphoras, and 15% in used barrels. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs considerable swirling and coaxing to reveal aromas of damp earth, fragrant soil, crushed rocks, and underbrush, giving way to a profound core of blackcurrant cordial, juicy black plums, and fresh blackberries. The full-bodied palate is laden with nuanced black fruits, slowly releasing earthy and mineral-laced flavors, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. Talk about tasting the place! This is Pauillac in all its powerful, energetic glory."
The 81-hectare vineyard sits on classic Pauillac terroir: deep gravel beds over clay and limestone subsoils. The gravel provides excellent drainage and heat retention, ideal for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, while the clay beneath ensures water retention during dry spells. The proximity to the Gironde estuary moderates temperatures and extends the growing season. Biodynamic farming has enhanced soil biodiversity and root penetration, allowing deeper terroir expression.
Pauillac AOC represents the heart of the Médoc's Left Bank, home to three first growths and some of Bordeaux's most age-worthy wines. The appellation mandates minimum 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Cabernet Franc, with yields capped at 57 hectolitres per hectare. Pauillac wines are characterised by their power, structure, and cedar-inflected elegance, requiring patience but rewarding with decades of evolution. The gravelly soils and maritime climate create ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends.
The 2022 growing season in Bordeaux threw everything at the vines: a warm, dry spring that brought flowering forward, followed by scorching summer heat that had many producers genuinely worried about their fruit. By August, some vineyards were showing real stress, with leaf burn and shrivelling grapes becoming common sights across the Left Bank. The saving grace came in September when temperatures dropped and gentle rains arrived just when the vines needed them most, allowing the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon to finish properly whilst preserving freshness.
What emerged from this rollercoaster was a vintage of surprising quality, though yields were predictably low. The reds show concentrated fruit with ripe tannins that avoid the harsh edge that excessive heat can bring - that September reprieve really mattered. Merlot fared particularly well, ripening before the worst of the summer stress, whilst Cabernet Sauvignon varies more depending on terroir and how well individual estates managed the heat. We're finding the wines drink beautifully now with immediate charm, though the better examples will certainly reward patience over the next decade.
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Château Pontet-Canet
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