La Revue du Vin de France

The Wine Independent

Wine Enthusiast

Dense, yes, but this is also a handsome wine that balances complex tannins with pure black currant fruits that shine. This biodynamic wine has a generous, full and rich feel, ripe with just a touch of restraint. The greatness of the wine shows in its purity with a deceptive simplicity that hides the final complex tannins and structure.

Vinum Wine Magazine

Falstaff

Dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Blackberry with a hint of mint, tobacco, nuances of cassis and liquorice, fine minerality, a hint of tea tree oil, fascinating aromatic depth. Juicy and elegant on the palate, blackberries and blackcurrants, vivid tannins, pleasant fruitiness in the finish, salty and mineral in the aftertaste. A great wine with personality and length. Certain ageing potential for years; not yet fully developed but already accessible. (2025 -2060).

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

The first vintage the estate was certified Biodynamic shows only a minor touch of lightning at the edges. The wine opens with cedar, smoke, tobacco leaf, black currants, blackberries, and wet forest aromatics. Full-bodied, powerful, intense, concentrated, and rich, texturally, the wine is opulent, full, and deep, with a long, palate-coating layer of dark, black and red fruits. There is a touch of heat in the long, fruit-filled finish. While still youthful, the wine is already approachable with 2 hours or so of air. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2055.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2010 Pontet-Canet offers a very deep garnet color. Whoa—the nose explodes with a vast array of black fruit preserves and savory nuances: plum preserves, blackcurrant cordial, black cherry coulis and licorice with wafts of dried lavender, melted chocolate, charcuterie, black olives, truffles and camphor plus a hint of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is completely filled with black fruits, exotic spices and earthy nuances with a firm foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. So much more expressive and seductive than a lot of 2010s at this stage, and yet it is still incredibly youthful!

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2010 Pontet-Canet lags behind the 2009, but these two vintages can be hard to compare due the drastically different styles. Where the 2009 is broad, expansive, and showy, the 2010 starts our more reserved and classic in style, with beautiful notes of cassis, cedarwood, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and damp earth all developing with air. Deep, beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and powerful, it’s built for the long haul and needs 5-7 years of bottle age, but I suspect will see its 50th birthday in still fine drinking form.

Decanter Magazine

Class in glass. Deep ruby, youthful tone. Such sumptuous red berry, cassis and tobacco aromas. Juicy and full bodied, with smoothly textured tannins. The creamy mid palate texture is framed by an impressive arc of tension and balancing acidity, ensuring long life. Long finish. Super! Aged 50% new oak.

James Suckling

The aromas to this are incredible with blueberry, minerals, dried flowers, and stones. It goes to dried meat and spices. Full body and incredibly integrated with blackberry, licorice, and minerals. There's a wonderful purity to this. It goes on for minutes. The quality of tannins is amazing. Seamless. There's an amazing transparency that shows you all the elements of the wine's unique terrior.