Pontet-Canet Pauillac 2018

99 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, DELICATE rim brightening. Ripe dark berries, black heart cherries, a breath of figs and nougat, candied purples and fine noble wood nuances in the background, very multilayered bouquet. Substantial and complex, sweet wild berryish fruit, fine nougat, ripe, silky but supporting tannins, has impressive length and savouriness, a multi-faceted companion at the table. (2020-2060). (2/14/21)"

99 points La Revue du Vin de France: "2019 and 2018 are a magical new duo. The 2018 is going through a very firm phase, it needs a good airing to unfold; the fruit then awakens and regains its brilliance, the texture is finely powdered and the tannins are dressed in velvet. An earthy, intense wine. (2022)"

98 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "The 2018 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It was aged in 55% oak barriques and 45% amphorae. Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes from the glass with an atomic perfume of raspberry pie, blackcurrant pastilles, rose oil and Chinese five spice, giving way to suggestions of cinnamon stick, dusty soil, pencil lead and underbrush. The rich, seductive, full-bodied palate is a hedonist's dream, delivering layer-upon-layer of black and red berry preserves with loads of fragrant accents, a beautifully firm yet plush texture and tons of freshness, finishing long with a whole firework display of exotic spices. This is pretty much out-of-the-gate delicious, but it has the backbone to evolve over three decades or more. Drink: 2023-2053. (Mar 2021)"

98 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "When I tasted the 2018 Pontet-Canet in barrel I described it as a 'freak of nature.' The 2018 is more than that, it is a freak of nature. Made from yields of just ten hectoliters per hectare, the 2018 possesses off the charts richness, phenomenal balance and head-spinning intensity. Crushed red berries, flowers, mint, cedar and rose petal saturate the palate in a Pauillac of breath-taking richness. The silkiest of tannins frame the phenomenally pure, long finish. This is a towering achievement from the Tesseron family and former Technical Director Jean-Michel Comme, who together spearheaded biodynamic farming in Bordeaux and built the present-day estate around a philosophy of non-interventionalist winemaking. In 2018, grapes were crushed solely by hand. Because of the tiny yields, the entire production was vinified in Pontet-Canet's new smaller concrete vats. All winemaking was done manually, without the aid of external temperature control or electricity. Put in another way, if Lalou Bize-Leroy made Bordeaux, it would taste like this. (Drink between 2028-2058. (Mar 2021)"

98 points James Suckling: "A complex nose of blueberries, elderberries, dried fruit, spice and dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied with a harmonious, balanced texture. The tannins are still firm and powerful, but there’s balance and finesse to the whole thing. Tight and reserved, yet long and energetic. The tannins open slowly. Dusty texture. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2024. (1/7/21)"

98 points Wine Enthusiast: "This wine combines the richness of the vintage with a sophisticated structure of smoky tannins and spicy wood aging. It is still young, with a powerful structure and ripe, vibrant black-currant fruits. The wine needs plenty of aging. Drink from 2028. Organic and biodynamic. Alcohol 14.5%. (May 2021)"

97+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "An unevolved, almost primordial 2018, the 2018 Château Pontet Canet sports a dense purple hue as well as loads of blue and black fruits, damp earth, tobacco, candied violets, and graphite-laced aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, serious mid-palate depth, and building tannins, it's mostly potential at this point, but it's a beautiful wine in the making. A decade of bottle age is going to be required, though, so it's not for those seeking instant gratification. (Drink between 2029-2069. (3/11/21)"

97 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2018 Pontet-Canet has a deep garnet-purple color. It offers up open-knit, pronounced notes of prunes, raisin cake, and Chinese five spice, with hints of potpourri, dusty soil, and cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is velvety and generous, with flamboyant, floral-laced black fruits and an energetic finish. Drink: 2025-2055. (2/9/23)"

96 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot). Knitted down tannins, powerful concentration to the blackberry, black cherry and cassis fruits. A gourmet feel overall, rippled with cocoa bean and cigar box, this is an excellent wine and for me has improved since En Primeur. Still needs plenty of extra time in bottle, but already has definition and finesse, and evident potential. A difficult vintage at Pontet Canet, with tiny yields after losing 2/3 of the crop to mildew, making the success in the glass even more striking. Additions in the celllar also at this point, with 400l small cement vats made from their own soil. No pump overs, no lees stirring, the entire harvest sorted and destemmed by hand, no electricity beyond lights in the cellar, as little intervention as possible throughout the whole process. Drink: 2021-2048. Alcohol 14.5%. (9/17/21)"