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Pontet Canet 1996

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Also available in the following mixed case:

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Pontet-Canet

Label

Tasting Notes

92+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

There is stark contrast between the nose on the 1996 and post-millennial vintages. This is a much more old-school Pauillac nose, less brightness of fruit, more secondary aromas such as pencil box, autumn leaves, sous-bois and a hint of sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins a little brusque compared to the 2000, but fresh and lively. Certainly very masculine with moderate length. A little dry towards the finish. Drinking perfectly now, although lacking the same level of breeding compared to other vintages. Drink now-2015. Tasted May 2009.

89
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2009

Mid to pale crimson with a little age at the rim. Dried herbs and grasses on the nose. Then sweetness. Then some quite brutal tannins. This needs quite a time. Drink 2015-2030.

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, September 2011
Read more tasting notes...

I was shocked by how backward the 1996 Pontet-Canet was on the three occasions I tasted it in January. This wine possesses superb potential, but it appears a decade's worth of patience will be necessary. The color is a saturated dark purple. With coaxing, the wine offers aromas of black currant jam intertwined with minerals, sweet oak, and spice. A full-bodied wine, it possesses layered, concentrated, sweet fruit, with an elevated level of ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035.

92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (122), April 1999
91/95
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (3), November 1998

A classic Pauillac, the 1996 continues to flesh out, revealing an opaque purple color, and a magnificent crème de cassis nose reminiscent of the superb vintages of Mouton Rothschild (Pontet Canet's neighbor). The wine is full-bodied, as well as extraordinarily rich, ripe, and powerful, with layers of sweet black fruits intertwined with earth, minerals, and spicy oak. Massive on the palate, with lofty tannin, but equally high extract, this is a profound Pontet-Canet that may turn out to be even more classic and longer-lived than the 1995 and 1994. Terrific stuff !

91/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (115), February 1998
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.