.We testify it is still drinking well today, though will benefit from an intermediate range of ageing. Its cracky, Clare style- still big, undoubtedly complex- has gone beyond 'big' and balances robust coffee and mocha plum fruit flavours with textural elegance and complexity. It was blended batch by batch and bottled unfiltered for maximum flavour. Best to decant lightly. Quite elegant. Consistent scoring.
JH 95 Points
This is a salubrious, full-bodied, glossy wine with a mesh of premium vineyard fruit and an 18-month passage across quality French oak. A deep crimson verging on opaque. A firm bulwark of coffee grind-mocha tannins prolongs scents of violet, blue to blackberry persuasions and crushed rock, long and far across the palate. The tannins define, etch and shape this, keeping it from an OTT persuasion. Just. Very good, if hedonism is your cup of tea. (Edited)
RP 94 Points
Even better than the impressive 2016, Kilikanoon's 2017 Covenant Shiraz offers up aromas of violets, blackberries and blueberries. It's full-bodied yet vibrant, a bit Cornas-like (but without the granitic base), with fine, silky tannins and a lingering finish. It can be consumed with pleasure anytime over the next decade or so. (Original)
Updated: Nov 15, 2022
Deep purple with a tight rim, this bottle exudes the aroma of black cherries, blackberries, cherries, graphite, liquorice and vanilla. The Pauillac tannins are tamed and become delicate. The bottle is simple, supple and round with fruit and excellent precision and freshness. There are fewer tertiary tones than we expected, and the ripeness and elegance of 2009 may have made this second wine even more approachable, given the age-worthy character of Pontet Canet. Its First Wine gets a full RP 100 and points to this second wine's worthiness. Score is CT91.
Using younger vines from Pontet-Canet's 78 hectares of vineyards adjoining those of Mouton Rothschild, this 2009 is made from Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), Merlot (32%) and Cabernet Franc (5%).
Berry Brothers wrote, 'Château Pontet-Canet is a large Pauillac estate that can trace its origins back to 1725 when Jean-François Pontet gave his name to the estate he had acquired. However, the wine was not château-bottled until 1972. In 1975 the property was sold to Guy Tesseron, of the Tesseron family, one of the finest exponents of luxury, very old, aged Cognacs (Cognac Tesseron).
The Tesserons also own Château Lafon-Rochet in St-Estephe. Today, Château Pontet-Canet is owned and run by Alfred and Michel Tesseron.
The Tesserons have vastly improved the quality of the Pontet-Canet wines, which are now full-bodied and packed with ripe, chewy, black fruits and finely integrated tannins. In addition, the wines possess marvellous ageing potential.
Deep ruby; tight rim- can lay for some years from now. Pretty rose tones—a good fruit profile with a fresh raspberry, strawberry, mint and tobacco scented bouquet. The nose reflects the palate with excellent weight, concentration and density for the class. Dry tannins are well balanced and ageing well. Some complexities from the mix of varietals from 46% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carmenere, and 1% P Petit Verdot. High-quality, fruity vintage for Potensac. Classic Bordeaux four-square style; 13.5% ABV. Good scores: 91WE, DD92, 90 Falstaff. A charming medium-bodied bottle which drinks on and on.
Voss from Wine Enthusiast writes, 'One of the showpieces of the Médoc, this structured and firm wine has strong Cabernet flavours that give dry tannins and juicy black currant fruits. Still youthful, this balanced wine is likely to age well. Drink from 2018.'
