Winemaker Notes
Very intense color. Very strong nose, dominated above all by fruity notes and a high mineral content. Cultivation methods add a touch of additional complexity. Strong palate and full-flavored. The wine is structured, with very smooth tannins. The finish is long and savory.
Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit-Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 is a wine to stockpile, especially for those in their thirties and forties as it needs another decade to reach maturity, after which it should keep for 30+ years. This vineyard, just south of Mouton Rothschild, has produced an opaque bluish/purple-colored 2006 with an extraordinarily pure nose of graphite, charcoal, sweet creme de cassis, and a hint of scorched earth. Incredible concentration, stunning richness, and a 60-second finish result in a wine that transcends the vintage as well as this estate’s 1855 classification. This enormously endowed, modern day classic is a legend in the making. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050+.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
I first tasted the 2006 Pontet-Canet out of barrel in the spring of 2007 and it was pretty impressive then. Time is bringing this big guy along nicely. The oak is still standing out prominently, some melding into the fold is occurring and predictably on the appointed timetable. Yes this one is on an excellent trajectory to follow-through on its first promise. Deep ruby color; bold and up-front in the nose with black fruit and sweet oak, some intermingling now coming into play; medium to full bodied, fully-textured on the palate; dry, medium acidity, well balanced; classic Pauillac black fruit flavors, with perfectly appointed oak in the background; medium finish, just starting to drink well. (Tasted: September 14, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
-
James Suckling
This red is now soft and fruity with plum, berry and mineral character. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Drink or hold.
-
Wine Spectator
Blackberry, currant and plum tart aromas lead to a full body, with a solid core of fruit, sweet fruit and silky tannins. Generous and round, with lovely richness for the vintage. Best after 2014. 23,330 cases made.
-
Wine Enthusiast
At this early stage in its development, this wine shows more structure than richness. The tannins are fully developed, dark and dense. The complexity is there, but the fruit and the elegance are still to come—and that suggests good aging potential.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
The leader on the Left Bank in number of first growth classified producers within its boundaries, Pauillac has more than any of the other appellations, at three of the five. Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild border St. Estephe on its northern end and Chateau Latour is at Pauillac’s southern end, bordering St. Julien.
While the first growths are certainly some of the better producers of the Left Bank, today they often compete with some of the “lower ranked” producers (second, third, fourth, fifth growth) in quality and value. The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification that goes back to 1855. The finest chateaux in that year were judged on the basis of reputation and trading price; changes in rank since then have been miniscule at best. Today producers such as Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Grand Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Lynch-Bages, among others (all fifth growth) offer some of the most outstanding wines in all of Bordeaux.
Defining characteristics of fine wines from Pauillac (i.e. Cabernet-based Bordeaux Blends) include inky and juicy blackcurrant, cedar or cigar box and plush or chalky tannins.
Layers of gravel in the Pauillac region are key to its wines’ character and quality. The layers offer excellent drainage in the relatively flat topography of the region allowing water to run off into “jalles” or streams, which subsequently flow off into the Gironde.