2006 Ch. Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

Alfred Tesseron is currently producing astonishing wines that are easily of Super-Second Growth quality. This is one of the great wines of 2006. The work he has done in the vineyards, using organic and in some cases biodynamic methods, has clearly paid off in this tricky year. The wine has a spicy, brambly fruit nose followed by a tight-knit palate packed full of blackcurrant and raspberry fruit with cedar and coffee hints. The wine's focus, purity and minerality acts as a perfect counterpoint to its harmonious richness. This is an utterly complete wine, and a must-buy.

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+.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb-2009)